Tired of your steady diet of presses and laterals? Two-time Arnold Classic Figure champ Candice Lewis-Carter dishes up a five-move delt routine to break your shoulder rut.
As important as great shoulders are to a beautiful physique, the workouts that craft them can be pretty mundane. Just like the monotony of a precontest diet—“Chicken breast, rice, and vegetables, again?”—advice on training delts has always revolved around seated presses and lateral raises, ad nauseam.
If you can no longer stomach that same old routine, Candice Lewis-Carter has an exciting new recipe for you. The 2017–18 Arnold Classic Figure champ and all-time winningest figure pro—who recently announced that she was stepping away from competition to start a family—has her own delt routine that doesn’t rely on any of those traditional moves. Here, she serves up a five-course delt developer that she’s used to perfect her showcase body part. Ready to give it a try?
Candice Gets Candid
AFTER THE 2018 Figure Olympia, Candice Lewis-Carter let the world in on a secret—the 34-year-old, 13-time champ in the IFBB Professional League was stepping away from competition to try to start a family with her husband, Wahhab Carter. Four years ago, she received a stunning diagnosis: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a disease that can cause fertility issues. Recently, she spoke with Hers about her decision and what comes next.
Q Did you already know you were retiring before competing at the 2018 Figure Olympia?
I knew beforehand—I kept it between my husband and closest friends and family. It’s why I was so emotional backstage. To get so close to the mountaintop and end up losing by one point was disappointing, but at the same time, I’ve always been taught to count my blessings and take everything in stride.
Q How did knowing it was your last show affect your preparation?
It changed everything, from the way I worked out to how I planned my meals. I reached a new level in my training I didn’t even realize that I was capable of. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always trained extremely hard, but this last year was more intense and more of a physical and spiritual journey. I felt like I was training with the weight of the world on my shoulders every day for about four and a half months.
Q Would you ever consider returning to competition?
I never say never, but my main priority is starting a family. We’ll see how I feel after some time away from the stage. I’ve heard of competitors having the urge to compete right away after having a child, while others fully embrace motherhood, so it will depend on my mindset once I’m at that stage of my life.
Q You received a PCOS diagnosis at age 30. Did you sense something wasn’t quite right before then, that you had to work harder than the average person to get in condition for shows?
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Five-move Delt Routine To Break Your Shoulder Rut
Tired of your steady diet of presses and laterals? Two-time Arnold Classic Figure champ Candice Lewis-Carter dishes up a five-move delt routine to break your shoulder rut.
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