Simultaneously gaining muscle and losing fat is the holy grail for most gym-goers. It’s known in the fitness industry as body recomposition. Body recomposition is a polarizing topic among experts. Some say it’s impossible for experienced lifters. Others will tell you it’s the best way to reach your goals.  In this episode, I explain that recomposition is possible, but it is extremely difficult, and most people who try will fail.  I explain the five circumstances where recomposition is the...

Sleep is fascinating. We all know it is good for us, and most of us would like to get more, yet, according to research, 43.2% of adults are sleep deprived. That’s almost half the population wandering around like caffeine-addicted zombies with brain fog because of poor sleep.  This sleep deprivation is not normal or healthy!  Reduced sleep duration has been linked to seven of the fifteen leading causes of death in the U.S.  Poor sleep will: Disrupt hormonal function Weaken your immune...

It’s common knowledge that we lose muscle mass and strength as we age. This is known as sarcopenia. As someone approaching their 40th birthday, I’m interested to know what the research shows about this syndrome. So, I dug into the research to see what, if anything, could be done to reverse or at least slow down the physical decline we go through as we age. What I discovered was fascinating, and I share all of it in this episode. I’ll explain: Why do we lose muscle and strength as we...

In this episode, I’m delighted to join Tony Gentilcore to discuss how he charted his path within the fitness industry and has built a thriving business using coaching, writing, and educating. Tony was one of the co-founders of Cressey Sports Performance (CSP). Since leaving CSP in 2016, he has been training people at his own studio, CORE, located in Boston, MA.  During our conversation, Tony explained: Owning your own gym is not the gold standard for success in the fitness industry. There...

A mini-cut is a vital tool in your muscle-building toolbox. Sadly, it is often misunderstood or used recklessly. Used strategically, mini-cuts are one of the best ways to help you build the bigger, leaner body you want. A properly executed mini-cut is like robbing the fat bank. You get in, get what you want, and get out before suffering any of the negative consequences of chronic dieting. In this episode, I break down everything you need to know about mini-cuts. I cover the following...

In this episode, I sat down with my friend and colleague, Tarek Shuhaibar, to discuss the importance of stress management on our overall health, gym performance, and physical appearance. Stress is a taboo subject, especially amongst men who want to be seen as the alpha. We had an open and frank discussion about this. Throughout the episode, we break down the negative impacts of this on overall health and why this could be the limiting factor to achieving the results you want. Tarek has built...

In this episode, I’m delighted to be joined by Jamie Lewis to discuss the history of strength training. Incredibly the origins go back a couple of thousand years, and much of what people were doing back then still holds now. So there undoubtedly are many lessons to be learned by doing your history homework. Jamie describes himself as a cultural history nerd wrapped in tattoo-covered muscle. He has a passion for history and holds a BA in History and East Asian Studies from the University of...

Our guest, Yunus Barisik, explains exactly what it takes to produce elite-level athletes for ice hockey in this episode. He particularly highlights the need for increased strength and outlines exactly how he structures his athlete's training throughout the year to optimize performance and keep them injury-free. Yunus has personally trained and designed strength, speed, and conditioning programs for 500+ athletes at all levels of competitive hockey, including: NHL draft picks from ten NHL...

Steve Keane is the co-founder of Kraft Coaching, a coaching service specializing in helping regular people develop incredible physiques. I’m a big fan of Steve’s work and think of him as part coach, part fitness philosopher. Steve’s coaching journey has seen him pivot from coaching competitive physique athletes to helping general population clients. In this episode, he explains why this change has increased his sense of fulfillment. He also describes the similarities and differences...

Start by asking yourself these three questions: -What’s my main goal? -What type of training is best for this goal? -What type of nutrition plan supports this type of training? Once you answer these questions, everything begins to crystallize, and a framework of dieting becomes obvious. From here, it’s just a case of fine-tuning the details to best suit you. Let’s go over each phase.

In this episode, I’m delighted to welcome Rick Howard to the show. Rick is an expert in Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD). He wrote the paper on the subject by writing the NACA’s position stand in LTAD.  Whether you are a parent, work with kids, coach adults, or want to develop and maintain your athleticism throughout your entire life then, this episode is packed with wisdom and principles you can apply. 

Mike Tromello is back on the show, and in this short, sharp, content-packed episode, he explains: What your redline is: -How to train yourself to withstand staying near or on top of your redline state in a workout -The various heart rate zones you need to train to develop well-rounded conditioning.  -The difference between VO2 Max and Lactate Threshold -How to program conditioning work to complement your training goals, whether that be CrossFit, sports performance, gaining strength, or muscle

Most people train their asses off but build very little muscle. This result is because they are fighting only half the battle. While they focus all their energy on the training front, they get blindsided by the diet. I’ll share how you can do the same and start to see far better results in this episode. I outline how quickly you can build muscle, determine the number of calories you need to gain lean muscle, and pinpoint the two nutritional factors that deliver 80% of your results.

Robert Linkul is the National Strength and Conditioning Associations (NSCA) 2012 Personal Trainer of the Year. Robert runs Be Stronger Fitness, a Strength and Conditioning facility that focuses on training an older clientele demographic. With their skill set and experience, Robert and his team are uniquely qualified to provide proper strength training for the older adult.

Josh Henkin. is a CSCS and Master RKC with twenty years of experience. His innovative Dynamic Variable Resistance Training (DVRT™) has allowed him to present in more than 13 countries and publish in top outlets like Men's Health and the Wall Street Journal. In this episode, we discuss the DVRT system, why sandbags are such a versatile tool and the importance of training modalities that challenge stability and develop sound movement mechanics. 

Joe Bennett, AKA the Hypertrophy Coach, is joining me. Joe has developed a thriving fitness business focused on his passion for muscle building and working with people he loves coaching. During the show, Joe maps out his journey from young meathead to expert status. If you want to build a career around your passion, find your niche, work with people you like, and have time for family life, you need to listen to this episode.

Mike Tromello of Precision CrossFit was an accomplished athlete and is now a top coach. He’s coached multiple CrossFit games, athletes, and medal-winning weightlifters. Mike explains the key principles that will help you build an elite CrossFit athlete's physique in the show. He also pinpoints what separates his athletes from their competitors.  This episode is a must-listen if you want to look and perform at your best!

Dan John is an athlete, coach, teacher, and writer. He’s been lifting weights and throwing discus for about 50 years and is still going strong in his 60s. He’s also the author of one of my favorite books - Never Let Go: A Philosophy of Lifting, Living, And Learning.  We cover the key assessments you can run on yourself to determine which areas need work. He also outlines how you should train in the three main brackets of your lifting career: 16-35, 35-55, 55+.

In today’s episode of the breaking muscle podcast, we are joined by Max Moldaschl. Max began his finance career, but found himself tired, stressed, overworked, and heading for burnout. Many of his friends and colleagues recommended he use CBD oil to try and manage his stress. Despite initially being skeptical of CBD oil, he took the plunge and began using it. His experience was so positive he began researching it extensively. 

The word legend is thrown around too often, but in this episode, we are genuinely joined by a legend of strength sports – Odd Haugen. Odd was America’s Strongest Man in 1999, has broken multiple world records, competed, and won national titles in bodybuilding, weightlifting, and powerlifting, and helped organize and judge numerous events worldwide. He coached Martins Licis to the 2019 Worlds’ Strongest Man title. And if that wasn’t enough, at the age of 70, he’s stronger than you!

In this episode, Tom MacCormick explains exactly how he thinks you should train to build the most muscle possible. He explains what anabolic resistance is and why it means you must change your training strategy to keep growing. He identifies the three key phases of training, P.B.S. for short:  -Primer -Building -Solidification And, he will share exactly how to structure and sequence each phase to maximize your results.

Ray “Cash” Care. Ray is a navy seal veteran who has leveraged his experience and passion to become an expert on self-improvement, team-building, and fitness. He is the founder of CONQUER, a leadership, and team-building program designed to push you physically, mentally, and emotionally to break through personal barriers. Ray will teach you how to learn, grow, and profit from your pain by becoming better from the inside out.

Andrew Coates is a coach, writer, and podcast host. He works with athletes and gen-pop clients with a focus on education and enjoyment. In this episode, we discuss how he juggles coaching 35+ hours a week with creating a fitness brand. We also explore how this has opened up multiple opportunities for him. If you are interested in expanding your impact within the fitness industry and want practical tips to help you achieve it, this episode is a goldmine.

Our guest today is Mark Coles. Mark is a coach, bodybuilder, gym owner, educator, and fitness business mentor. He has also just released his book, Level Up – The Fitness Professional’s Road Map to Achieving Excellence, and reached the top of the Amazon bestseller charts. In this episode, we explore the valuable lessons Mark has learned from two decades of training and how these can be applied to all walks of life to take you to the next level.