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Powerlifter Maddy Forberg in Two-Piece Workout Gear Says "The Claw Comes Off During Sets"

Forberg shares her top workouts and tips for building strength.

Maddy Forberg
Maddy Forberg/Insatgram

Maddy Forberg, a seasoned powerlifter and fitness expert, is known for her strong lifting skills and insightful fitness advice, which she shares with her large Instagram following. Recently, Forberg posted a video of herself using the squat machine at the gym, captioning it, “The claw comes off during sets 😤 At least when my head is against a machine 😅 Outfit by @gymreapers use code STRONG.” From squats to hamstring curls, Forberg focuses on perfecting technique and maximizing efficiency in her workouts. Her dedication to proper form and muscle engagement has not only helped her achieve impressive strength but also inspired her followers to elevate their fitness game. Here’s a deeper dive into how she stays fit and strong.


1. She Does Squats

In her Instagram post, Forberg is seen doing squats on a machine. She also shared this video on her page of herself doing them with a barbell. Forberg captioned the post, “Still got it?? I’m overthinking lifting content so here’s some hi👋 bar squats I did a few weeks back tehe.”

2. She Lifts Weights

Maddy Forberg.2Maddy Forberg/Instagram

As you can see in the previous Instagram post, Forberg likes to lift weights to stay in shape. ACE Fitness states that lifting weights has a lot of benefits. “Lifting heavy weights increases production of the hormone IGF-1. This hormone is related to the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is a neurotransmitter responsible for stimulating the growth of new neural pathways in the brain along with enhancing communication between existing pathways. In short, lifting heavy could make you smarter by enhancing cognitive function.”

3. She Does Workouts Properly

Forberg makes sure to have proper technique when she is working out. In this Instagram video, she advised her followers to not squeeze their glutes when doing RDLs and squats. Forberg captioned the post, “Nobody likes to waste time 🤷‍♀️Squeezing your glutes at the top of THESE two movements won’t help you build your glutes. It may give you that “sensation” to make a hard glute contraction here, but it isn’t helping to build the muscle (in these exercises!) That doesn’t mean it’s a bad cue if you struggle with deadlift lockout. But for hypertrophy? You’re not getting bonus points.”

4. She Does Lunges

Foberg is seen doing lunges in this Instagram video. Lunges have a lot of benefits. The Mayo Clinic states, “The lunge is a body resistance exercise that works the leg muscles. Specifically, the lunge targets the quadriceps and the hamstring muscles in the thigh, the gluteal muscles in the buttock, and to a lesser extent, the lower leg muscles. The lunge is a great conditioning exercise for many sports, especially those that involve lunging movements, such as tennis, basketball or soccer.”

5. She Does Hamstring Curls

Foberg is seen doing hamstring curls in this Instagram video. She captioned the post, “Let me break this down for you🕺There’s a couple nuanced things you need to consider to get the most out of your hammy work. Here are a few things I am ~mindful~ of when I set up for standing hammy curls. Hope this helps 💪 new YouTube video out! Join my programs 🔗”