Aside from dominating on the sport’s biggest stage, Derek Lunsford recently made some time for a valuable workout lesson. In a YouTube video, Lunsford offered clear instructions on performing walking lunges for lower-body muscle development.
“Sometimes it’s the simple ones that are not enjoyable and can easily be skipped. Can’t do it. Gotta do it.”
Derek Lunsford staked his claim to the throne after winning at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. His impenetrable back, muscle mass, and overall definition saw him take out the previous champion Hadi Choopan en route to becoming the first two-division champion.
Though Lunsford’s victory was well earned, Hadi Choopan himself and many of his fans didn’t take the loss easily. After his defeat, Choopan stormed off the stage before ceremonial pictures could finish up. Shortly after, Choopan would reach out to the new champ and commend him on his win.
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Regardless of Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan making amends, Lunsford would unfortunately still have to deal with threats to not only himself but his family as well. The champion took this seriously and addressed the public stating that any threats against him or his family crossed the line.
Derek Lunsford Advises Fans To Include Walking Lunges in Workout Routines
After the dust had settled from Mr. Olympia, Derek Lunsford has kept busy as the champ. From multiple guest posing appearances to workouts with big names such as Ronnie Coleman, the champ hasn’t taken a break. With no end in sight, Lunsford recently shared on YouTube why people should incorporate walking lunges into their routine.
Walking lunges are a form of lunges that allow the user to move around rather than staying stationary. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to complete a walking lunge.
Derek Lunsford shares that while they aren’t his favorite exercise, walking lunges are still essential.
“Walking lunges are one of my least favorite exercises, I’m not going to lie. For one, they are exhausting and they are usually at the very end of my workout. By the time I get to them, I’m usually ready to call it a day.”
“You would think that me, like given that I like to generally attack the exercises that I’m not as good at or I don’t enjoy, usually that’s what I thrive on is the things that most people like to do. However, I don’t feel much stimulation in the muscle from the exercise even though I know that’s not really exactly what it’s for.”
“It’s really a lot for the stretch and keeping that in mind, makes me want to do the exercise because I know that it’s healthy for the muscle to stay loosened up and create more blood flow into the muscle especially at the end of the workout” Derek Lunsford said.
Derek Lunsford highlights the benefits walking lunges provide for the body since they don’t give the standard pump other exercises give.
But like I said, if you’re going to do them at the end of the workout and especially if you add weights to the exercise, it’s very exhausting whether you do dumbbell walking lunges or barbell on your back walking lunges, either way, it’s a very tiring and exhausting exercise.”
According to the reigning Mr. Olympia, he thrives off exercises that he doesn’t like to perform.
“I thrive on exercises that I feel are stimulating the muscle as far as like getting a pump, I can feel a crazy squeeze and contraction of the muscle where I don’t really get that with lunges as much as I do the stretch.”
“Again, super effective, you can’t skip them, they are a must-do but they are just one of the exercises where it’s like look, you gotta do it, and sometimes you just gotta do the things you don’t want to do.”
Derek Lunsford is known for his hardcore workouts. Leading up to the 2023 Mr. Olympia, Lunsford shared multiple training sessions including his final back workout before ultimately smashing the competition. After Olympia, Lunsford is still training with intensity and even hit the gym with YouTube sensation Mr. Beast, showing him what it takes to be a top bodybuilder.
Right now it seems Derek Lunsford has his eye on the 2024 Mr. Olympia set to take place this October in Las Vegas, Nevada. As the champion, he has remained dedicated to the sport by being present and has served as an exemplary ambassador for bodybuilding.