Nhlanhla Vilakazi is a doctor, IFBB Muscular Physique competitor and Biogen-sponsored athlete. He has been competing for just over a year but has been a fitness enthusiast for as long as he can remember. “Growing up, I always seemed to find myself promoting physical exercise and fitness initiatives”, says... Read more
You need to squat heavy to achieve serious gains in size and strength, but you also need to squat safely, using impeccable form and engaging the right muscles to avoid pain and injuries. If squatting has literally become a pain in major joints like the hips, knees or ankles,... Read more
We’ve all experienced the tell-tale signs that suggest our weight is creeping up, like tighter fitting pants and feeling a little softer around the edges. But alarms bells start ringing when your grandmother asks when you’re due, despite not being pregnant. That’s what happened to Loretta Ntsuka. It was... Read more
Adding lean muscle is the main focus for gym-goers and also allows athletes to perform at their best. There is no shortage of products that claim to boost muscle gains, but truly elite physiques are built with a combination of hard training, serious nutrition and quality supplementation. When your... Read more
Men’s Physique athletes generally sport one of the more aspirational physiques in the bodybuilding world. These modern-day Adonis’ don’t carry as much muscle mass as their bigger bodybuilder counterparts, yet are just as lean. Their balance of muscle size, symmetry and conditioning make their aesthetic extremely appealing to a... Read more
We know that creatine is a wonder product – there is extensive research to back up this claim. And creatine monohydrate is particularly effective due to its muscle uptake and ability to increase high-intensity exercise capacity. Not only does it increase power and strength, but it also boosts muscle... Read more
HMB, or Beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl-butyric acid, first hit supplement store shelves in the 1990s. Back then it was touted as a breakthrough product that could increase muscle and decrease body fat. However, the science needed to affirm these claims were thin on the ground. Researchers have for years been divided on... Read more
Amino acids – the basic building blocks of complete proteins – have become one of the most pervasive ingredients in modern-day supplements. From pre-workouts and intra-workout products to energy drinks and recovery blends, you’re likely to find various combinations and ratios of essential amino acids (EAA) and branched-chain amino... Read more
We all know how important that post-workout protein shake is – it stops muscle tissue breakdown and kickstarts the anabolic (muscle-building) process. But why wait until after your workout to give your muscles a beneficial boost of amino acids? A potent combination of ingredients Research suggests that drinking a... Read more
Based on the latest lockdown regulations, it seems unlikely that gyms will reopen anytime before July. For physique-conscious gym-goers, this is a sobering reality. After all, you need heavy weights to build serious muscle. So, should the more muscular among us resign ourselves to this new reality, where a... Read more
