Muscle for Life

In this installment of the Best of Muscle For Life, you’ll hear hand-picked clips from three popular MFL episodes: an interview with Menno Henselmans on the science of self-control and willpower, a Says You episode on eating less than 1,200 calories per day, and a motivational episode on the power of habit.  Some people—my favorite people—listen to most or even all of my podcasts, but my wizbang analytics tell me that while many listeners tune in on a regular basis, they don’t catch every installment of Muscle for Life and thus miss out on insights that could help them do at least a little better inside and outside the gym. That’s why I do “best of” episodes that contain a few of the most practical and compelling ideas, tips, and moments from the more popular episodes I’ve published over the years. This way, you can learn interesting insights that you might have otherwise missed and find new episodes of the show to listen to. So, in this installment of The Best of Muscle for Life, you’ll be hearing hand-picke

How does strength training differ from hypertrophy training? How much overlap is there?  In other words, will strength training get you bigger? Likewise, will hypertrophy training make you stronger? If you want to maximize strength gains, how should your training program look? Can you build a healthy, muscular physique with just strength training or do you also need accessory movements? And if you are training more like a powerlifter, how much volume is necessary to get stronger? These are common questions I get about strength versus hypertrophy training, and in this podcast, I invited Dr. Brad Schoenfeld to dive into the science of training for strength compared to lifting with the goal of gaining muscle size.  He’s the perfect guest for the topic, because he was recently involved a narrative review of the science of maximizing strength.  Brad practically needs no introduction, but in case you’re not familiar with him, he’s an internationally renowned fitness expert, author, educator, lecturer, and rese

If you’re trying to lose weight, there’s nothing more frustrating than stepping on the scale and seeing the same number for days or weeks on end. It's a feeling almost everyone can relate to.  Many people hit a weight loss plateau at some point in their journey. And the good news is that there are simple solutions to help you break through. In this podcast, you’ll learn common reasons why weight loss stalls and practical tips to help you overcome them. With these strategies, you’ll know exactly how to beat weight loss plateaus and get back on track towards your goals. Listen and let me know your thoughts! Timestamps: 0:00 - Please leave a review of the show wherever you listen to podcasts and make sure to subscribe! 3:16 - When do you know that you have stopped losing weight? 9:08 - How does water retention affect weight loss? 17:07 - How do I plan and track food accurately? 21:27 - Save up to 30% on Legion Health Supplements this week only! buylegion.com 22:37 - How can I have cheat meals and continue l

Is a glass of wine every day harmful if you account for the calories? What books have had a lasting impact on me? What are my favorite front delt exercises? Is watching porn unhealthy? Can you use machines instead of free weights? Is it ok to cut for 5 months? What happens after you reach your genetic potential? All of that and more in this Q&A podcast. Over on Instagram, I’ve started doing weekly Q&As in the stories, and it occurred to me that many podcast listeners might enjoy hearing these questions and my short answers. So, instead of talking about one thing in an episode, I’m going to cover a variety of questions. And keep in mind some of these questions are just for fun. :) So if you want to ask me questions in my Instagram stories, follow me on Instagram (@muscleforlifefitness), and if I answer your question there, it might just make it onto an episode of the podcast! If you like this type of episode, let me know. Send me an email ([email protected]) or direct message me on Instagram. And

In this podcast, I interview Liz, who nearly gave up on reaching her fitness goals, but joined my one-on-one coaching program and lost 38 pounds while getting stronger than ever. And in her own words, it was “easier” than any other program she tried. That’s saying something because before finding my work, Liz struggled with body image from a young age. She spent decades (and thousands of dollars) on bunk programs, pills, books, and fad diets. She yo-yo dieted herself into losing and gaining the same 25 pounds over and over again. Understandably, she was skeptical of my book and coaching program, but took the leap as a last ditch effort before giving up on her goals. And she’s glad she did, because she finally learned how to take control of her health with flexible dieting, lose fat for good, and get stronger than she’s ever been. And she managed to do it in her 50s, with nothing but a home gym, and while facing several health conditions like hypothyroidism, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even dental s

Long-term relationships are a lot like a garden. If you fail to water it (or, consciously do the “right things”), it can wither. The good news is there are easy ways to improve your relationship by adding or changing just a few key behaviors. If you want a practical, evidence-based book that aims to improve communication, conflict management, trust, and intimacy for couples seeking to strengthen their romantic relationship, you should read The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver. In this podcast, I’m sharing my top 10 key takeaways. “Can you recommend a book for…?” “What are you reading right now?” “What are your favorite books?” I get asked those types of questions a lot and, as an avid reader and all-around bibliophile, I’m always happy to oblige. I also like to encourage people to read as much as possible because knowledge benefits you much like compound interest. The more you learn, the more you know; the more you know, the more you can do; the more you can do, the

Is erythritol bad for you? A new study has been making waves, claiming that this commonly used natural, zero-calorie sweetener could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, as with many health-related headlines, the media has been quick to jump on the sensationalist bandwagon. So, should we be worried about erythritol? Or is this just another case of misleading information for the sake of advertising clicks? Listen to this podcast to separate fact from fiction. Timestamps: 0:00 - Please leave a review of the show wherever you listen to podcasts and make sure to subscribe! 1:20 - What is erythritol? 2:38 - Is erythritol safe? 10:55 - Find the Perfect Strength Training Program for You: www.muscleforlife.show/trainingquiz 15:41 - What are your thoughts on erythritol? Mentioned on the Show: Find the Perfect Strength Training Program for You in Just 60 Seconds: http://www.muscleforlife.show/trainingquiz

One weird trick to improve your gut health, reduce bloating, and improve digestion? Listen to this podcast interview. That’s the trick. That’s because in it, I interview Marianna Moore, who offers practical tips on how to really influence your gut health. Hint: it’s not greens powders or supplements. The truth is gut health is a lot more complicated than many people (especially on social media) would have you believe, but in this podcast, you’ll learn things you can implement in your own life right away. In case you’re not familiar with Marianna, she has a Masters in nutrition (and focused on gut health during her education), and regularly posts healthy recipes and realistic meal prepping tips on instagram, as well as educational fitness and gut health content on TikTok. She’s also the co-host of the Fitness Stuff Podcast, along with Tony Coffey, who I also recently had on the show. In this interview, Marianna and I discuss . . . How to determine if you have poor gut health “Good” versus “bad” bacteria in

Imagine if there was a gym that blared a siren when people didn’t re-rack their weights or wipe down their equipment. Or a gym that celebrated your fitness wins. Would you go to a gym like that? Listen to this podcast to hear what I’m talking about and let me know your thoughts! Timestamps: 0:00 - Please leave a review of the show wherever you listen to podcasts and make sure to subscribe! 0:54 - Get 30% Off My Fat Burners! buylegion.com Mentioned on the Show: Get 30% Off Legion Fat Burners, Phoenix and Forge! Go to buylegion.com and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% on any non-sale items or get double reward points!

Is sugar ruining your health? Is a high sugar diet worse for you than eating lot of saturated fat? Have we been blaming fat for problems caused by sugar? Find out in this podcast. I’ve written and recorded a lot of evidence-based content over the years on just about everything you can imagine related to building muscle, losing fat, and getting healthy. I’ve also worked with thousands of men and women of all ages and circumstances and helped them get into the best shape of their lives. That doesn’t mean you should blindly swallow everything I say, though, because let’s face it—nobody is always right about everything. And especially in fields like diet and exercise, which are constantly evolving thanks to the efforts of honest and hardworking researchers and thought leaders. This is why I’m always happy to hear from people who disagree with me, especially when they have good arguments and evidence to back up their assertions. Sometimes I can’t get on board with their positions, but sometimes I end up learning s

Do you wear an Oura Ring, Whoop Band, FitBit, Apple Watch, or other fitness tracker, or ever thought about getting one? Advances in technology and people’s desire to take their health and fitness into their own hands have made wearable fitness devices more popular than ever. These tools claim to offer us unprecedented levels of insight into our health and well-being, but how accurate are these devices when it comes to tracking your heart rate, step count, total daily energy expenditure, sleep, stress, or recovery? Are these gadgets really that useful? Paul Hough returns to the podcast to discuss the topic of wearable fitness technology and the “quantified self” movement. In case you’re not familiar with Paul, he’s a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Oxford Brookes University in the UK and has published several studies in academic journals. He’s also a fellow author, and his new textbook, Advanced Personal Training, which aims to turn science into applicable practice for personal trainers. And o

Looking for a dietary supplement that can help you lose fat, build muscle, and improve your overall health? Many people claim CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) is the answer. CLA is a widely popular supplement in fitness circles and advocates believe it provides numerous health benefits. From promoting muscle growth to aiding fat loss, and even reducing the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, CLA seems like a wonder supplement. Is it too good to be true? In this episode, we'll explore the evidence surrounding the benefits and risks of CLA. Is it really free of side effects? Is there enough reliable evidence to back the proponents’ claims? Listen to this podcast to find out! Timestamps: 0:00 - Please leave a review of the show wherever you listen to podcasts and make sure to subscribe! 1:54 - What is conjugated linoleic acid? 11:13 - Try Whey+ risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/whey and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points! 13:49 - Does CLA benefit muscle building? 16:29 -

What’s the best cardio if you only have 10 minutes? Is drinking diet soda ok in moderation? What do I think about the 5:2 diet? Can you train heavy while also preparing for long-distance runs? What are my thoughts on biohacking? Are there different health effects between high-fat and high-carb diets while in a deficit? All of that and more in this Q&A podcast. Over on Instagram, I’ve started doing weekly Q&As in the stories, and it occurred to me that many podcast listeners might enjoy hearing these questions and my short answers. So, instead of talking about one thing in an episode, I’m going to cover a variety of questions. And keep in mind some of these questions are just for fun. :) So if you want to ask me questions in my Instagram stories, follow me on Instagram (@muscleforlifefitness), and if I answer your question there, it might just make it onto an episode of the podcast! If you like this type of episode, let me know. Send me an email ([email protected]) or direct message me on Instagra

Most people know newbies can gain muscle and lose fat at the same time, but can intermediate or advanced lifters accomplish a body recomposition? In other words, if you’re already fit, can you optimize your body composition by building muscle and losing fat simultaneously, or do you have to cycle through bulks and cuts? More importantly, how do you actually do a body recomp? Is there a difference between recomping and bulking or cutting, and what are the key factors and variables to adjust if you want to build muscle while burning fat? To help answer these questions, I tagged in my friend and scientist, Chris Barakat, who’s actually published research on this topic. If you’re not familiar with Chris, he’s a published scientist, educator, coach, and natural bodybuilder, and he’s a repeat guest on the podcast for good reason. His years of developing his book smarts along with his practical knowledge of gym know-how means he knows how to get results while also having something interesting to say, and I always le

My Book Club series is back! These are my top 10 key takeaways from Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive by Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J. Martin, and Robert Cialdini. “Can you recommend a book for…?” “What are you reading right now?” “What are your favorite books?” I get asked those types of questions a lot and, as an avid reader and all-around bibliophile, I’m always happy to oblige. I also like to encourage people to read as much as possible because knowledge benefits you much like compound interest. The more you learn, the more you know; the more you know, the more you can do; the more you can do, the more opportunities you have to succeed. On the flip side, I also believe there’s little hope for people who aren’t perpetual learners. Life is overwhelmingly complex and chaotic, and it slowly suffocates and devours the lazy and ignorant. So, if you’re a bookworm on the lookout for good reads, or if you’d like to get into the habit of reading, this book club for you. The idea here is simple: Eve

In this installment of the Best of Muscle For Life, you’ll hear hand-picked clips from three popular MFL episodes: an interview with Jordan Syatt on building a healthy relationship with food, a monologue on the importance of volume versus intensity for gaining muscle, and a book club episode on Walter Isaacson’s Benjamin Franklin. Some people—my favorite people—listen to most or even all of my podcasts, but my wizbang analytics tell me that while many listeners tune in on a regular basis, they don’t catch every installment of Muscle for Life and thus miss out on insights that could help them do at least a little better inside and outside the gym. That’s why I do “best of” episodes that contain a few of the most practical and compelling ideas, tips, and moments from the more popular episodes I’ve published over the years. This way, you can learn interesting insights that you might have otherwise missed and find new episodes of the show to listen to. So, in this installment of The Best of Muscle for Life, you’l

In this podcast, I interview Emily, who read my book Thinner Leaner Stronger and joined my one-on-one coaching program to take her health into her own hands, lose 25 pounds, and get leaner and stronger than ever before. Before she found my work, she was 175 pounds and felt skinny fat. She didn’t feel like she knew what she was doing, especially when it came to nutrition, and was spinning her wheels. As a result, she decided to invest in herself, join my coaching program, and now she’s transformed herself into a lean, strong, and confident person. After a 3-month cut, she dropped 25 pounds, 10% body fat, and now she maintains around 160 pounds with a completely overhauled body composition. And the best part is she realized that once she had the knowledge, she had the power to make a change. Despite dealing with disordered eating in the past, she learned about what it really takes to lose weight without feeling hungry, fixed her relationship with food, and gained the confidence to know she can get results on co

Want to know the most common fitness-related regret? I’ve worked with tens of thousands of people over the years, and the answer is pretty clear: not starting sooner. So, don't let fear and lack of motivation hold you back any longer. In this podcast, you’ll learn how even small changes in your routine can lead to major results. The impact of simple habits like strength training, walking, eating vegetables, reducing sugar intake, and even drinking water is surprisingly large. Press play and discover the secrets to becoming part of the top percentile of fit and healthy Americans. Get ready to transform your life and reach your fitness goals with ease. --- Timestamps: 0:00 - Please leave a review of the show wherever you listen to podcasts and make sure to subscribe! 3:31 - Legion VIP One-on-One Coaching: https://www.muscleforlife.show/vip --- Mentioned on the Show: Legion VIP One-on-One Coaching: https://www.muscleforlife.show/vip

How can you break the habit of eating sweets? Should you sacrifice sleep to workout? Why haven’t I started taking steroids? Is training 6 days per week too much? What’s my business motivation and how would I deal with a huge financial failure? All of that and more in this Q&A podcast. Over on Instagram, I’ve started doing weekly Q&As in the stories, and it occurred to me that many podcast listeners might enjoy hearing these questions and my short answers. So, instead of talking about one thing in an episode, I’m going to cover a variety of questions. And keep in mind some of these questions are just for fun. :) So if you want to ask me questions in my Instagram stories, follow me on Instagram (@muscleforlifefitness), and if I answer your question there, it might just make it onto an episode of the podcast! If you like this type of episode, let me know. Send me an email ([email protected]) or direct message me on Instagram. And if you don’t like it, let me know that too or how you think it could b

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you start eating and just can't seem to stop? Well, you're not alone. Binge eating can be a frustrating and defeating experience for many of us. It can quickly set us back in our health and fitness journey, especially when it comes to reaching our body composition goals. And even if you don't struggle with binge eating disorder, you may still find yourself overeating a bit too much a bit too often. So, whether you’re dealing with true bingeing or not, in this episode, I’m serving up 10 science-based tips to help you stop binge eating, improve your relationship with food, and take control of your eating habits. Sit back, relax, and let's dive in!" --- Timestamps: 0:00 - Shop Legion Supplements Here: https://buylegion.com/ and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points! 4:34 - What is binge eating? 9:51 - What causes binge eating? 13:10 - Avoid restricting diets 14:56 - How does skipping meals cause binge eating? 18:50 - Avoid tempting food