The Best Oblique Exercises for 2024: Carve Out Your Waist

These muscles help to enhance core stability, improve athletic performance, and give your waist a chiseled look. Here are the best exercises for obliques in 2024 that will help you achieve that sculpted midsection.

Cable Woodchopper

• How to Perform: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, hold a cable handle with both hands and rotate your torso while bringing the cable diagonally across your body.
• Why It Works: This exercise targets the obliques with resistance, improving strength and definition.

Russian Twists

• How to Perform: Sit on the floor with your legs bent, lean back slightly, and twist your torso from side to side while holding a weight or a medicine ball.
• Why It Works: Russian twists engage the obliques through a rotational movement, building muscle and improving flexibility.

Side Plank with Hip Dips

• How to Perform: Begin in a side plank position and lower your hip towards the ground, then lift it back up to the starting position.
• Why It Works: This dynamic version of the side plank strengthens both the obliques and core stability muscles.

Hanging Leg Raises with a Twist

• How to Perform: Hang from a bar, lift your legs toward your chest, and twist your hips to engage the obliques.
• Why It Works: This advanced move hits the lower abs and obliques, helping to build muscle and improve athletic performance.

Bicycle Crunches

• How to Perform: Lie on your back, bring your knees towards your chest, and alternate touching each elbow to the opposite knee in a cycling motion.
• Why It Works: This exercise effectively targets the obliques while also engaging the rest of your core muscles.

Top 10 Robberies in Bodybuilding History: Controversial Decisions

Bodybuilding competitions are often marked by subjective judging, which sometimes leads to controversial outcomes. Here are the Top 10 Robberies in Bodybuilding History where fans and athletes alike felt that the wrong person walked away with the title.

Jay Cutler vs. Ronnie Coleman (2001 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Many fans believed Jay Cutler should have defeated reigning champion Ronnie Coleman in 2001 due to his superior conditioning.

Kai Greene vs. Phil Heath (2014 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Kai Greene brought an incredible package, yet Phil Heath retained the title. Fans argued that Kai’s aesthetics should have earned him the win.

Flex Wheeler vs. Ronnie Coleman (1998 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Flex Wheeler’s aesthetic physique led many to believe he should have won over Ronnie Coleman in 1998, the year Ronnie began his Olympia reign.

Victor Martinez vs. Jay Cutler (2007 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Many believe Victor Martinez was robbed of the Olympia title in 2007 after coming in with better conditioning than Jay Cutler.

Lee Haney vs. Rich Gaspari (1986 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Rich Gaspari’s conditioning led some to believe he should have won, although Haney’s mass ultimately secured him the victory.

Shawn Ray vs. Dorian Yates (1994 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Shawn Ray’s detailed physique was arguably superior to Dorian Yates’ bulk, leading to debates over who should have won.

7. Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Sergio Oliva (1972 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Sergio Oliva fans believe he was robbed of the 1972 Olympia title by Arnold, despite having a more defined physique.

8. Franco Columbu vs. Mike Mentzer (1980 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Mike Mentzer’s fans believe he should have defeated Franco Columbu, arguing his conditioning and symmetry were superior.

9. Dexter Jackson vs. Phil Heath (2012 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Dexter Jackson came in with nearly perfect conditioning, but the judges awarded Phil Heath the win, sparking debate.

10. Dennis Wolf vs. Shawn Rhoden (2013 Mr. Olympia)

• The Controversy: Many felt that Dennis Wolf’s size and conditioning should have placed him higher than Shawn Rhoden in 2013.

Best V-Shape Exercises for 2024: Achieve a Tapered Physique

The coveted V-shape physique, characterized by wide shoulders and a narrow waist, is a goal for many bodybuilders. Here are the best exercises for achieving that classic V-taper in 2024.

1. Pull-Ups

• How to Perform: Use a wide grip on a pull-up bar and pull yourself up until your chin is above the bar.
• Why It Works: Pull-ups are essential for building a wider back, especially targeting the lats, which help create that V-shape.

2. Lateral Raises

• How to Perform: Hold dumbbells at your sides and lift them outward until your arms are parallel to the floor.
• Why It Works: Lateral raises target the deltoids, helping to build wider shoulders for a broader appearance.

3. Deadlifts

• How to Perform: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, grip the barbell, and lift it from the ground using your legs and back.
• Why It Works: Deadlifts build overall back thickness and strength, giving the back a more muscular appearance.

4. Lat Pulldowns

• How to Perform: Use a wide grip on the lat pulldown machine and pull the bar down towards your chest.
• Why It Works: Lat pulldowns isolate the lats, which are crucial for creating the illusion of a smaller waist and wider back.

5. Dumbbell Shrugs

• How to Perform: Hold a dumbbell in each hand and shrug your shoulders towards your ears.
• Why It Works: Shrugs target the traps, adding to the overall width of your upper body.

Best Posture Exercises: Improve Your Alignment and Stability

Good posture is crucial not only for aesthetics but also for avoiding injury and improving your overall health. These exercises are some of the best for improving posture.

1. Wall Angels

• How to Perform: Stand with your back against a wall, raise your arms, and press them against the wall, moving them in a snow angel motion.
• Why It Works: This exercise strengthens the muscles of the upper back, helping to pull your shoulders back into proper alignment.

2. Bird-Dog

• How to Perform: Begin on all fours, extend one arm and the opposite leg simultaneously, then return to the starting position.
• Why It Works: Bird-dog exercises improve core stability and strengthen the muscles that support the spine.

3. Planks

• How to Perform: Hold your body in a straight line, supported by your forearms and toes, for as long as possible.
• Why It Works: Planks engage the core muscles, improving overall stability and helping maintain proper posture.

4. Face Pulls

• How to Perform: Use a cable machine with a rope attachment, pulling the handles towards your face while keeping your elbows high.
• Why It Works: Face pulls target the rear deltoids and upper back muscles, which are essential for maintaining good posture.

5. Chest Openers

• How to Perform: Interlace your fingers behind your back and pull your hands downward to open up the chest.
• Why It Works: This stretch helps counteract the effects of sitting and hunching forward, promoting a more upright posture.

2025 Arnold Classic Prize Money: What to Expect

The 2025 Arnold Classic is expected to feature some of the biggest prize pools in bodybuilding history. While the exact figures haven’t been confirmed yet, it’s anticipated that the Men’s Open division could see prize money reaching close to $200,000 for the first-place winner, maintaining the Arnold Classic’s status as one of the most lucrative events in the sport.

Other categories, such as Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini, are also expected to see a rise in their respective prize pools, with some categories possibly offering over $50,000 to the champions. The 2025 edition of the Arnold Classic will continue to reward top-tier athletes while drawing in massive global interest.