Ryan Irwin, Author at Natural Iowa Muscle

Balance

As this year draws to a close and we look to set out goals for the upcoming year, there are many components to consider when doing so. In addition to reviewing the current/previous year as I advise in my workshops, a HUGE part of the goal setting process should be to identify and improve balance […]

Bodybuilding verse powerlifting competition prep, a comparison

Over the last two decades I have been blessed with the opportunity to compete in both the sport of bodybuilding and powerlifting, most recently at the IFPA Pro Elite Worlds for bodybuilding. While talking to another competitor from the East Coast at the check-in meeting the day before Worlds, he asked me what I enjoyed […]

12 months of ACTION to make 2017 the BEST!!

Goals are a common practice to set for the upcoming year, but what if you have 12 months of ACTION items to hit those goals? I am putting on a workshop on Saturday, Dec 10th in my Waukee, IA office from 9 AM to noon where you will come away with the following: 1. Based on […]

Something to Chewon Effort

Everyone loves rewards. Rewards could be something you receive due to a single feat you accomplished, or maybe you just finished a big project or large number of tasks. Perhaps a reward is earned from the fact that you didn’t do something. In any instance, a reward is something that is the outcome of effort […]

Article Weak Link

It is no secret that when a chain breaks, the weakest link is the culprit. The common sense application to our life is to focus on what that analogy might be representing to each one of us. However, I want to look at it from a different angle, I want don’t want to focus on […]

2017 Natural Iowa Information

The 23rd annual Natural Iowa is set for May 13th, 2017 in Des Moines, IA at the Hoyt Sherman Place! Online entry form will be up soon! Mark your calendars for one of the longest running natural pro-qualifying physique competitions in the Midwest!

All In – Bodybuilding, Coaching, Motivation, Goals

I read an article long ago that when a group of highly successful people were examined, one thing that was found common between the achievers was that they wrote their goals down and posted them up. Notice that it wasn’t the process of setting goals, but rather it was putting them on display that was […]

Bodybuilding contest prep update

Back in May I began my contest diet for preparing to compete in bodybuilding this fall. 10 weeks later, I figured it was time for a progress update. Certainly I am checking things daily and putting in the work to make progress, however, with trying to balance family, work, clients, etc, I don’t have the […]

Shoulder Surgery Preparation Tips

At the time of this article, I am 10 months post shoulder surgery. My rotator cuff was repaired from a partial full tear of the supranational, along with some bone shaved off to improve impingement and some floating cartilage was removed. The surgery was a success and I am back to full function. In the […]

Growth

A couple of months ago I transplanted some plants that were long overdue into larger pots. Even someone with no green thumb could tell this needed done; the plants weren’t growing, would wilt quickly, the dirt was getting low and the pots were obviously too small. After making a huge mess (I expected this) the […]