💪 15 Best Barbell Exercises for Size and Strength

Need a few last-minute fitness tips to help you conquer the week? As usual, The Ripped Report’s got you covered.

Here’s what you’ll learn today:

• The 15 best barbell exercises for gaining muscle and strength.

• Eight common mistakes people make during bench press workouts.

• A look at the record-breaking career of three-time Bikini Olympia champion Ashley Katlwasser.

EXERCISES

Barbell Overload

There’s no shortage of strength-building equipment to choose from at the gym. You’ve got dumbbells, pull-up bars, resistance bands, and countless other odds and ends that we don’t have the space to name here. But when you get right down to it, the humble barbell stands out from the pack.

Training with a barbell allows you to lift heavier weights, potentially building more size and strength when used properly. It really is the king of all gym equipment. Of course, there are countless barbell movements to choose from. So, to make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 best exercises to focus on if you want to build serious size and strength.

FORM CHECK

Bench Press No-Nos

Of course, the bench press made our list of the best barbell exercises. Its popularity is undeniable, as it helps develop a strong and impressive chest while also putting your shoulders and triceps to the test. However, even the most experienced lifters can make mistakes during this gym staple.

There are so many ways you can ruin your benching technique, from incorrect elbow and wrist positioning to improper grip width. These issues can derail your progress at best and increase the potential for injury at worst. To identify and fix these common errors, keep reading below.

BODYBUILDING

Kaltwasser’s Bikini Biography

With three Bikini Olympia titles and two Bikini International (Arnold Classic) wins to her credit, Ashley Kaltwasser deserves to be recognized as one of the greatest competitors to grace the stage. Since her debut in 2011, she has consistently dominated her division, establishing herself as a formidable force and becoming the winningest IFBB Pro League competitor in history.

But despite all of her success, nothing came easy to Kaltwasser. Her career started in a small town in Ohio, where she initially participated in high school athletics before stepping onto the bodybuilding stage. Today, we delve deeper into her remarkable career, exploring her complete competition history, unique training style, and how she manages coaching and other business ventures.

THE DROPSET

All Jacked Up

• Andrew Jacked made a statement over the weekend with a huge win at the 2023 Texas Pro. Not only is he now officially qualified for this November’s Mr. Olympia, but he might be one of the favorites to win the whole shebang.

• Need help dropping some pounds? Check out the 10 best supplements for weight loss in 2023.

• The lower chest cable flye rounds out your pecs for full chest development. Learn the proper technique.

SOUND OFF!

Where Could Jacked Rank?