The Strength Log
The Strength Log podcast covers strength training, fitness, weightlifting, and health. Hosts Daniel Richter and Philip Wildenstam, two Swedes with decades of gym experience, translate scientific research into practical insights for achieving fitness goals. The show also promotes the StrengthLog workout tracker app.
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Lifting vs. Cardio: Which Is Better for Your Health?
Which is better for your health: lifting weights or doing cardio? In today's episode, we discuss a new meta-analysis comparing the effects of strength training and aerobic exercise on a range of health markers, including blood sugar, blood pressure, body composition, and cardiovascular fitness. We dig into the results, discuss what other research tells us about exercise and longevity, and explore
Five Sets Once a Week vs. One Set Five Times a Week
Does it matter how you spread your training across the week? Two episodes ago, we looked at a study comparing the same training volume spread over one or three weekly workouts. Now we're back with another study on training frequency, this time comparing five sets of leg presses once a week with one set five times a week. Same exercise, same total training volume, but very different schedules. The
Are You Sleeping on Muscle Growth?
How much muscle growth are you missing out on by not getting enough sleep? In today's episode, we discuss a new scientific review exploring how sleep affects your hormones, muscle protein synthesis, recovery, and ability to train hard. The evidence suggests that poor sleep makes it harder to build muscle. But despite everything we know about the importance of sleep, there's surprisingly little di
Same Sets, More Workouts, Better Gains?
If you're doing nine sets for a muscle every week, does it matter whether you cram them into one workout or spread them across three? In today's episode, we discuss a new study that tested exactly that in experienced lifters. Both groups performed the same exercises and the same number of weekly sets, but spreading them over three workouts allowed the lifters to perform considerably more reps and
How Much Should You Eat on a Bulk?
Can intermittent fasting help you build muscle without gaining too much fat? In today's episode, we review a new 12-week study comparing lifters who bulked with an eight-hour eating window to lifters who could eat whenever they wanted. But the most interesting result might have very little to do with time-restricted eating. One group ended up eating considerably more calories and gained more tha
Big Pecs, Big Bench?
If you add muscle mass to your pecs, will that mean you'll also be able to lift more weight in the bench press? In today's episode, we look at a new study of Paralympic bench pressers that measured their pecs, triceps, and arm length, and then compared these variables with their performance at the Brazilian national championship. The results? Bigger pecs and triceps were associated with stronger b
Do Muscles Compete for Growth?
If you train your legs hard, could they steal gains from your upper body? In today's episode, we discuss a new study that put the idea of muscles competing for growth to the test by having one group train only their biceps and another train both their biceps and quads. Did adding all that leg training leave fewer resources for the biceps to grow? We dig into the results, what they tell us about l
How Many Calories Does It Take to Build a Kilogram of Muscle?
How many calories does your body actually need to build muscle? In today's episode, we discuss a new paper that attempts to calculate the energy cost of building a kilogram of muscle, from the energy stored in the new tissue to the surprisingly high cost of actually constructing it. We also talk about the ramifications this has for your bulk. How big should your calorie surplus be? How quickly sho
Should You Ditch Squats and Deadlifts after 50?
Are squats and deadlifts bad exercise choices once you've turned 50, and would it be better to replace them with similar but easier lifts? In today's mailbag episode, we discuss whether your exercise selection really needs to change as you get older, and what actually matters when choosing exercises for long-term strength and muscle growth. We also talk about why some muscles seem almost impossibl
The Muscle Growth Paradox
Let's dive into a fascinating new study on one of strength training's biggest questions: how much of your early strength gains come from bigger muscles, and how much comes from your nervous system (muscular adaptations)? The results are surprising and have important implications, whether your goal is strength, muscle growth, or both. We also answer listener questions about 1RM calculators, low-rep
10 Gym Debates We Can't Settle
In today's episode, we debate ten strength and fitness-related topics that science can't settle for us! How important are deloads really? Does exercise order matter a lot or a little? And will compound lifts really give you the best bang for your buck? See the timestamps below for all topics. And please tell us what you thought about this episode format, since it's a bit looser and less formal tha
The Science of Injury Prevention
No matter if you're an active athlete or you just enjoy living an active life, injuries are something you want to stay clear of. But are injuries a given part of both training and life, or can you train in a way that greatly reduces your injury risk? In today's episode, we discuss a new research review looking into how different types of training affect your injury risk. *** Do you like what you
How Much Weaker Are You When Fasting?
How does fasting affect your workouts? Do you still have the same strength, power, and endurance as when you are well-fed and hydrated? That's what a new study sought to investigate, which we're discussing today! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @stren
Strength Training for Running
Runners who strength train become muscle-bound and slow. Or, at least that is what many still seem to believe. But research into strength training for long-distance runners actually paints a very different picture. In today's episode, we talk about why basically every runner with even an iota of ambition should add strength training to their training regimen – along with how to do it, and what you
Why Do People Hate Deadlifting?
Another week, another summer mailbag! And we have six great questions for you today, including ones about deadlifts, injury rehab, and sleep quality. See the timestamps below. Timestamps: 03:30 - Question 1: Why does everyone (meaning Philip) hate the deadlift? 12:15 - Question 2: Benefits and drawbacks of slower rep-tempos (e.g., 3-0-3). 20:45 - Question 3: I just completed a 6-week program that
If Building Muscle Is Easy, Why Is Everyone Stuck?
Summer mailbag time, and you guys and gals sent us a bunch of great questions once again! The first one deals with the hidden gap between fitness science and real life: If research shows that building muscle is easy, why isn't every person you see at the gym jacked? We spent a good deal of time on that one before moving on to four more questions; see the timestamps below. We'll be back next week w
The Road to Your First Pull-Up
Getting your first pull-up or chin-up is a major milestone for most people who train. But how do you go about it effectively and quickly? In today's episode, we present a plan that's been proven to work time and time again, no matter if you're a woman or a man, light or heavy. We break down the exercises that will take you towards your first pull-up, and explain why lat pulldowns and rows aren't a
Vacation Training: How Little Can You Get Away With?
Summer vacation is coming up, and we gym rats start wondering how little strength training we can get away with without losing muscle mass and strength. And what if we skip training altogether? In this episode, we cover everything you need to know about scaling back your training when traveling or spending time in a hammock. We also give you tips on practical programming when you don't have acc
Can Strength Training Help Overweight Kids?
Strength training is among the best things you can do to improve your health, and that goes for both adults and children. But what kind of effects does strength training have on children who are overweight or obese? In today's episode, we're discussing a new study review looking into exactly this – and the results are encouraging! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star re
Is the Mind-Muscle Connection Real?
If you focus on feeling your muscles work while lifting, can you increase their activity and grow them faster? In bodybuilding, this concept is known as the mind-muscle connection. But is it real, and – even if it is – should you care? The mind-muscle connection is the topic of today's episode, and we have a new study on it to kick us off! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-
Pros & Cons of Starting Strength
Starting Strength is probably the most famous strength training program in the world, and a huge reason that barbell lifting took off 15-20 years ago. But is it really a good program for beginners in the gym? And which claims by Mark Rippetoe in the Starting Strength book have aged badly? How would we improve Starting Strength? A listener on Spotify requested an episode about the pros and cons of
How Bad Is Alcohol for Your Gains?
Most of us already know that alcohol can have bad consequences for our health, but how much will a couple of drinks after a workout affect our bodies' ability to recover and build new muscle mass? And what about binge drinking? That's what we're here to find out, and in this episode, we dive headfirst into umbrella cocktails in search of answers to what alcohol does to our muscle growth, hormones,
Protein Myths & Truths
Can you slow your aging by eating a low-protein diet? Is protein really more satiating than fat and carbs? And does an upper level of safe protein intake exist? In this episode, we discuss the evidence behind eight common protein claims, aided by a new article published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, in order to find out what we can be basically sure about – and which claims l
How Good Are 30-Rep Sets for Muscle & Strength?
If you're training with weights close to your max versus weights that you can lift 30, 40, 50, or even 60 times, what difference does it make? In today's episode, we're looking at a study that examined exactly this. And even though we were a bit underwhelmed by the study design, it led to a great discussion! To bring you even greater value, we answer your best questions on the topic. See the time
How to Get Big Arms
How do you get big arms? In this episode, we go over the exercises, the programs, and the muscles important for developing your biceps and triceps into big guns. To help guide us, we asked for your questions on the topic of arm training – and you guys and gals delivered once again! In total, we answer seven arm-specific questions; see the timestamps below. Timestamps: 09:45 - Today's topic: How t
How to Lose Fat without Losing Muscle (Step-by-Step)
How do you lose fat without losing muscle? In today's episode, we go over and rank the most important factors for achieving this holy grail, and present you with our step-by-step guide to help you focus on what truly matters. After that, we answer a bunch of your questions on the topic of fat loss and strength training. Timestamps: 04:00 - Today's topic: How to lose fat without losing muscle ma
Strength Training Before and After Menopause
The mean age for menopause is 50, but some women enter perimenopause at 40 or even earlier. What do the hormonal changes of menopause mean for your strength training results, muscle mass, body fat levels, and quality of life? In this episode, we discuss a major new study comparing strength training outcomes before and after menopause, and give you our recommendations for how to strength train wh
Mailbag! The Ultimate Back Workout, and More
How do you combine Brazilian jiu-jitsu with strength training? What does the ultimate back workout look like? And how much do we bench, bro? We're back with another mailbag, thanks to you sending us so many great questions a week ago! See the timestamps below for all questions. Timestamps: 06:30 - Question 1: How much do you bench, bros? 11:15 - Question 2: How would you, as big, heavy, not young
Mailbag! How to Handle Injuries, Bulking, and More
How do you get back from injuries? Balance your strength training with a competitive sport? And what is the optimal rest time between sets? We asked for questions, and as always, you guys and gals delivered! Lots of fun stuff to talk about this week. In fact, we got so many good questions that we'll probably do a mailbag next week, too. Timestamps: 04:15 - Question 1: For fat loss, which is more
Debunking 10 Popular Bodybuilding Myths
Does spot reduction work? Will your muscles grow faster if you confuse them? And does fasted cardio burn more fat? In today's episode, we look into a new article published in the Strength and Conditioning Journal, and discuss ten popular bodybuilding myths to see which ones can be debunked. Timestamps: 04:15 - Myth 1: Periodization is necessary to maximize muscle growth 08:15 - Myth 2: Muscle co
The Problem with Exercise for Weight Loss
In theory, it's simple: just exercise more to lose weight. In practice, that is rarely what we see happen. Why is that? In this episode, we discuss a new, really cool study that looked into one of the many ways our bodies adapt and react when we suddenly start burning more calories than we eat. There is more going on than us becoming more lazy the rest of the day, or simply compensating by eating
Does Intermittent Fasting Boost Fat Loss?
Intermittent fasting is gaining popularity, promising weight loss and great health benefits. In today's episode, we talk about a new Cochrane review comparing intermittent fasting to regular dieting, to examine how the evidence actually stacks up. Is intermittent fasting all that it claims to be, or just another fad diet? And if you're fasting, how much do you need to pay attention to stuff like
How Important is Progressive Overload for Muscle Growth?
One of the most common pieces of advice in strength training is progressive overload, most commonly in the form of gradually increasing the weights as you get stronger. But how big a difference does it actually make for your muscle growth? That's what a new study sought to investigate, and that's our main topic today. We end the episode with two listener questions; see the timestamps below. Times
Let's Party Like It's Episode 100
Dear listener, we made it! Episode 100 is here! To celebrate the occasion, we're doing a Q&A where we answer as many of your questions as we can in under two hours. And today, in contrast to our usual episodes, we deviate a bit more than usual from the training-related questions and include a few more personal ones (see the timestamps below). Cheers! Timestamps: 06:45 - Favorite premium features
The Minimum Effective Dose for Strength Training
When you have limited time for training, how little can you train and still make gains? Or, if you're a beginner and don't want to invest a lot of time getting started in the gym, will your efforts be worthwhile if you strength train only once weekly? In today's episode, we're talking about the minimum effective dose for strength training. To kick things off, we have an overview study covering dif
Warming Up for Better Performance
How much of a difference does warming up make, and how should you warm up to maximize your performance in the gym? In today's episode, we talk about two new studies: a review of different warm-up strategies and a study on how psyching up affects your deadlift one-rep max. And we end the episode by answering common questions about warm-ups, including one about stretching. But before that, we gotta
Combining Cardio and Strength Training
For decades, there's been debate about and research into the so-called interference effect between cardio and strength training. In other words, are you setting yourself up to fail in the gym if you do too much cardio? In today's episode, we take a look at the current scientific picture on combining cardio and strength training. How much of an issue is it really, and how can you work around it whe
Building Muscle after 60 – the Elixir of Youth
Strength training is more and more looking like the closest thing we have to an elixir of youth. But how do you get started building muscle when you're over 60? And if you're already bitten by the iron bug, are there any changes you should make or be aware of past that age? In this episode, we try to answer all of your questions on the topic (see the timestamps below) to leave no stone unturned. T
The Key to Losing as Much Fat as Possible
Preserving your muscle mass during a weight loss diet is critical for preventing sarcopenia and maintaining metabolic health. It also means you're going to look better both clothed and naked, which is kind of sweet. So, what's the best strategy to lose mainly fat? In today's episode, we're diving headfirst into a brand-new study showing what you can do to massively increase the amount of fat you
Should You Load up on Carbs before the Gym?
Your body uses carbohydrates to power your muscles, organs, and brain. But how important is it to eat carbs before your strength workouts? That's the topic today, and we're discussing a new meta-analysis that looked at the effects of acute carbohydrate feeding on resistance exercise performance. Or, in other words, how much (or little) carbs up to an hour before your workouts can benefit you in t
Is a Full Range of Motion Always Best?
The range of motion you use when lifting can have a profound effect on your strength and muscle-building results. In today's episode, we break down a brand-new meta-analysis that compares the effects of strength training at short versus long muscle lengths. By now, we're really starting to get a clearer picture of what range of motion you should aim for most of the time – and with the help of this
Maximal Muscle Mass in Minimum Minutes
One of the biggest hurdles to strength training is a lack of time. Luckily, there are several advanced techniques to cram a lot of training into a short amount of time, one of the more popular ones being drop sets. In today's episode, we're discussing a new study comparing traditional strength training to drop-set training, to determine if you can achieve the same muscle growth in a fraction of t
Fat Loss or Muscle Gain – Which Should You Focus on First?
One of the most popular goals this time of year is to lose some (or a lot) of fat. But how do you go about that, and is it a good idea (like so many people do) to put off the strength training until after you've lost your fat? If you're looking to make healthy changes to your lifestyle this year, this is the episode for you. We cover the basics of losing fat and building muscle mass, and explain w
2025 in Review
We're in the final days of 2025, and it's time to wrap up this podcast year on a more personal note. What have been our wins and losses, what do we want to change in 2026, what scientific findings about strength training and health have surprised us the most, and which episodes of this podcast were our own favorites? Happy New Year, dear listener! Let's talk again in January. *** Do you like what
Our Cardio Experience, One Year In
We all know that cardio is great for us. But as lifters, cardio is seldom a passion, and many of us skip it entirely. 2025 was the year this changed for your two podcast hosts. As heavy guys, we had a hard time fitting cardio into our lives, and all efforts to build a cardio habit in the past had failed. But not this time! Both of us managed to turn things around, and although 'love' might be too
Minimalist Strength Training While Cutting
When you're on a weight loss diet, strength training is the most effective tool for increasing your fat loss while minimizing your muscle loss. But how do you maximize your chances of an efficient weight cut when you're not able to spend a lot of time in the gym? That's the topic in today's episode, where we lay out our minimalist plan for short but effective strength training workouts while cutt
Plateau Busting
For anyone who's been training consistently for a couple of years, the plateau is an ever-present companion. But why do we plateau in the gym, and what can we do about it? As far as we know, there's basically no research on plateaus, mainly because that would require really long training studies. However, that won't stop us from discussing this issue! In today's episode, we draw on our own knowle
What Deep Squats Do for Your Knee Health
By now, it's pretty clear that deep squats are superior to half or quarter squats in basically every way: better strength gains, more hypertrophy, improved athletic performance. But what about your knee health? Squatting deep definitely puts more stress on your knee joints, so will you regret having done ass to grass squats when you're older? In other words, are deep squats the cause of knee pain
Groundhog Gains, a New Premium Training Program
What happens if you squat, deadlift, and bench press daily for more than one hundred days? That's what Daniel's done, and in this episode, we discuss his experience with high-frequency training—and our new premium training program Groundhog Gains, which is available now for anyone who wants to try training like this. We also address the most common questions about daily training, such as recovery
Anabolic Steroids Weaken Your Tendons
Bit of a mixed bag for you today, with three unrelated topics. First, we look into why athletes on anabolic–androgenic steroids so often experience tendon injuries. As far as we can remember, a possible explanation has been that the tendons can't keep up with the fast gains of muscle mass and strength from AAS use, but new evidence indicates that there's more going on here! Second, there's growing
Rest Time Might Be Overrated if Volume Is Matched
How long you rest between sets is an important factor to consider, as longer rest times often lead to better training results since you can perform more reps in each set at any given weight compared to shorter rests. But what if you compensate for shorter rest times by doing more sets, until you've reached the same number of reps you would have been able to hit with longer rest between your sets?
To Keep Getting Stronger You Probably Need to Train More
To maximize strength and muscle growth, how many sets should you perform per week for each muscle and exercise? A year ago, we reported on a meta-study that found surprisingly low levels of training volume were sufficient to maximize strength gains. To say that had us confused is to put it mildly. It's finally time to revisit the topic of training volume for strength. Today, we have a new analys
How to Train the Bench Press for Big, Explosive Pecs
If you want to get a stronger bench press, bigger pecs, and become more explosive when pushing or punching, should you train for max strength, muscle growth, or explosiveness? And what is the overlap between those three training philosophies? Today, we break down a new study that compares exactly this, and give you our recommendations on how to plan your own strength training for these different g
Ultra-Processed vs Unprocessed Foods – Looking past the Macros
We've all heard that we should eat healthy, specifically to avoid ultra-processed food. But why? Yes, it's easy to overeat ultra-processed food because it's tasty. But if you count your calories and don't overeat, are ultra-processed foods still bad for you? In today's episode, we explore a new study that put people on either a diet consisting of ultra-processed foods or unprocessed foods. The re
How Do You Reduce Muscle Soreness? New Q&A!
Are there any scientifically proven methods to reduce muscle soreness after hard workouts? And if so, should you? We're back with another episode based on listener questions, and this is a good one. Besides muscle soreness, we discuss paused deadlifts and paused squats, as well as the optimal time of day for working out. See the timestamps below for all questions! All questions for this episode ca
This Is Why You Don't Need to Stress about Protein Timing
We have two topics for you today. First out is a new meta-analysis examining the impact of timing your protein intake immediately before or after workouts. Does it matter? And if so, how big are the differences? Then we tackle a topic a lot of you have been curious about: "Daniel is training weird." Let's explain. Daniel has been performing the big barbell lifts almost daily for over fifty days, a
Will Fat Loss or TRT Boost Your Testosterone More?
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is becoming more common as more and more men suffer from low testosterone. But for many men, it might just treat the symptoms instead of the root cause: unhealthy body fat levels. In today's episode, we discuss a new study that compared one of the new weight loss drugs (tirzepatide) to TRT, to examine which is more effective for treating low testosterone. The
8 vs 16 Sets per Week for Muscle and Strength
How many sets should you do weekly for your muscle groups to maximize strength and muscle gains? That is the eternal question for gymgoers, and even though this is a relatively well-researched subject, we still can't say for sure. Let's look into a new study that had participants perform eight sets of leg presses per week with one leg and 16 sets with the other, to see which leg got the biggest g
How Much Do Your Biceps Grow from Rows?
Rows are great for developing your upper back, but do they also work your biceps sufficiently? That certainly would be a good incentive to do more boring rows and less direct biceps work, to kill two swole birds with one stone. So, what does the science have to say about this? In today's episode, we break down a new study in which participants trained dumbbell rows with one arm and bicep curls wi
Try Alternating Sets for Faster Gains and Shorter Workouts
Longer rest times between sets typically mean larger strength and muscle gains. But what if you're short on time? Enter: alternating sets! Don't know what alternating sets are? No worries, we explain them in the episode, while looking into a new study that compares alternating sets with traditional sets, to see if they are the fastest route to big gains. *** Do you like what you hear so far? Ple
Will Pre-Exhausting Your Muscles Increase Growth?
Pre-exhaust training is a strength training philosophy popularized in the 1970s. Many bodybuilders still swear by it, but what does the scientific evidence say? In today's episode, we examine a new study comparing pre-exhaust training with traditional training, and give you our thoughts on when and how to implement it in your own training. Also, here's the bulletin on "the pre-exhaustion principle
How to Improve Your Sleep for Better Performance
Getting good sleep is one of the best things you can do to increase muscle growth, strength gains, fat loss, and general performance. In today's episode, we examine a study in which soccer players implemented different sleep hygiene tactics to improve their sleep. The tactics they had to choose from were: Avoid all electronic stimulants (TV, mobile phones, and computers) from 8 PM. If not doing
Best Ways to Form Healthy Habits
One of the best methods for being healthier and more productive is to use the power of habits. In this episode, we discuss a new review study on how long it takes to form new habits and what factors increase your likelihood of success. *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'
Will Collagen Keep Your Joints Healthy and Your Skin Young?
After working out, can you improve the strength and health of your tendons and joints by drinking a collagen shake or bone broth? And will that also help your skin look more youthful and beautiful? That's right, we have a new study to discuss, looking into the hype and claims of collagen supplements! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And
Is Muscle Soreness an Indicator of a Good Workout? Q&A Part 2
What is the correlation between grip strength and health? How do you keep yourself motivated when injured? And is muscle soreness really a good sign that your training is working? In this episode, we finish the Q&A we started last week, with five more listener questions on strength training! Timestamps: 01:30 - Question 1: Is muscle soreness a good sign that you've trained hard or just have unacc
How Little Can You Train and Maintain Your Mass? Q&A Part 1
Can you maintain your muscle mass with just one full-body workout per week? Are planned deload weeks necessary or overrated? How do you balance squats and deadlifts in the same training program? We're in the midst of summer and it's time to answer your best questions! We have five questions this week, and we'll finish this Q&A round next week with five more. Timestamps: 01:50 - Question 1: How lo
The Big 6 – Pull-Up: From First Rep to Upper Body Mastery
The pull-up is one of the most classic strength training exercises you can do, and also one of the best! But how do you manage your first rep if you can't do pull-ups today, and how should you train to progress to 10+ reps? Or should you stick to lat pulldowns instead? In this episode, we also discuss the biomechanics and muscles used in the pull-up and lat pulldown, as well as their pros and cons
The Big 6 – Row to Grow: Build an Unbreakable Back
You don't see it, but everyone else does. Your upper back holds some of the biggest muscles in your upper body, and the way to train them is with rowing exercises. In this episode, we talk about the barbell row and other common rowing variations, which muscles they work, best technique practices, biomechanics, and more. This is the fifth episode in our series covering "The Big 6" exercises: the be
The Big 6 – Overhead Press: Build True Upper Body Power
The standing barbell overhead press (also known as a military or shoulder press) is a classic strength training exercise. Before the ascent of the bench press in the 1950s, it was the most important lift for upper body pressing strength. It mainly targets your shoulders and triceps, but it's also great for the core muscles and athleticism in general. In this episode, we'll examine this lift in dep
The Big 6 – Deadlift: Raw Strength, Real Results
The deadlift is one of the most primal exercises in the gym and a true test of strength from head to toe. In this episode, we look into the muscles worked when deadlifting and how to perform the lift safely and effectively. We also break down the biomechanics of deadlifting, best practices for your technique, common mistakes, a bit about how dangerous it actually is to deadlift with a rounded back
The Big 6 – Squat: King of All Exercises?
The squat is known among gym-goers as the king of all exercises. In this episode, we talk about whether it lives up to the hype and how to perform the squat if your goal is to maximize muscle and strength gain. We also discuss the biomechanics of squatting, best practices for achieving a technique that will help you become bigger and stronger, the muscles worked, some common mistakes, and a bit ab
The Big 6 – Bench Press: Master the Most Popular Lift
How should you perform the bench press if your goal is to lift a ton of weight and build big and powerful pecs, shoulders, and triceps? In this episode, we discuss the biomechanics of bench pressing, the best practices for achieving a technique that will help you become bigger and stronger, the muscles worked, some common mistakes, and how to train the lift. This episode also kicks off a new serie
The 7 Principles of Highly Effective Strength Training
What determines if you get great results from your strength training, or just spin your wheels without getting anywhere? In this episode, we present our seven principles of highly effective strength training. These principles are not written in stone, and they have considerations and exceptions. But if you listen to the whole show, you'll be better equipped to deal with plateaus in your training
Will Training Fasted Hurt Your Gains?
Will training fasted hurt your muscle and strength gains? A new study had participants do full-body morning workouts for 12 weeks, with half having breakfast beforehand and half skipping breakfast to see how it affected their strength levels, muscle mass, and body fat. In this episode, you'll learn how important it is to eat before you go to the gym. We also discuss whether fasted training is sup
Why Long-Distance Runners Should Strength Train
Long-distance runners often hesitate to add strength training, for fear it will make them muscle-bound and heavy. But is that really what happens? In this episode, we discuss a new study on well-trained long-distance runners, that looked into how adding strength training affected their running economy and performance. The results? They're really good! Let's break them down and discuss how a long-
This Is Your Brain on Strength Training
Research is mounting that strength training is not only good for our biceps, but also for our brains, improving our learning, memory, and focus. That goes for other forms of exercise, too, like cardio. But which type is best, and how much of it should you do for brain gains? In today's episode, we discuss a new meta-analysis that tries to answer these questions. Over 9,000 brain points to anyone
The Impact of Cardio Fitness on Strength Gains
If you improve your cardio fitness, will you also perform better in the gym and recover faster between sets? That's a common hypothesis in the gym world. If proven true, it would be another good reason for adding more cardio training into your routine, since better recovery should mean bigger strength gains in the long run (pun intended). That's the topic today, and we have a new study that examin
Building Muscle After 40
Forty might be the new twenty, and for many, life feels better than ever. But physical signs of aging are starting to creep up on us at that age. Our backs ache a bit more than ten years ago; we feel tired more often; and let's not talk about our knees and shoulders. So, how do you go about strength training in your forties? Do you build less muscle mass compared to ten or twenty years ago? Is it
How Many Sets per Muscle Group and Workout?
Is there too much of a good thing, or should you just keep adding sets to your workouts to grow bigger and stronger? In episode 32, we discussed a meta-regression analysis on weekly set volume for hypertrophy and strength gains. Now, the same researchers are back with an analysis on per-session volume. How many sets should you do per workout for a given muscle or exercise to maximize muscle growt
Results from Maxing out in the Bench Press Every Day
Ten years ago we got an awesome study on powerlifters and weightlifters maxing out in the squat daily. Now, a group of physical therapy students have replicated that study, but in the bench press instead. You read that right. Bench press. Maxing out. Every day for more than a month. Plus back-off sets. That's a lot of bench pressing. But did they die? Super fun study and lots to talk about. Afte
