3D Muscle Journey

Jeff, Eric, and Brian share their perspectives on supplements, what they are currently taking, and advice for those who want to optimize all the variables in order to maximize progress. What were the coaches’ first experiences with supplements? What creates the placebo effect? What actually causes a pump? What is the “supplement treadmill”? Which supplements actually work? Why is it important to have realistic expectations for the supplements you choose to take? If you’re supplementing with creatine but you don’t feel it working, does that mean it’s not working? What are the risks that come with taking a lot of supplements? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 4:26- The changing perspective on supplements in the natural-bodybuilding community 9:55- Jeff’s first experience with supplements 23:34- Brian’s first experience with supplements and how his perspective on supplements has evolved over time 32:21- How powerful the placebo effect and…

Alberto and Brian discuss how athletes commonly feel after their bodybuilding season is over and what you can do to get back to feeling like yourself as soon as possible. What are some strategies to help minimize post-season blues? How normal is it to not feel like yourself physiologically after prep is over? What is the thing that most lets Brian know how recovered he is? Why do the coaches want their athletes to have other things going on while they’re prepping? What frequently stops people from gaining the weight they know they probably need to gain? Why don’t the coaches recommend reverse dieting at a slow pace after your season is over? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:44- The coaches’ first preps 11:39- How normal is it to not feel like yourself physiologically after prep is over? 21:32- The redistribution of body fat when you first start gaining weight after prep 22:44- Expect to overshoot 31:56- Post-season blues 40:32- Why…

Alberto, Jeff, and Brad discuss what the mind-muscle connection is, how important it is for muscle growth, who can benefit the most from focusing on it, and what you can focus on instead. Does the speed of your reps matter? Why is Jeff intentional about maintaining control of the weight when he’s lifting? What are the coaches’ thoughts on stricter reps versus less-strict reps? What do the coaches think about when they’re training and the intensity of the burning sensation is building? What can you think about so that your sessions don’t feel like you’re just checking things off a list? What are some signs that an exercise is a good fit for you? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Proprioception vs. Mind-muscle connection 9:48- Why Jeff is intentional about maintaining control of the weight when he’s lifting 19:15- Stricter reps vs. Less-strict reps 30:24- More examples of how focusing too much on the mind-muscle connection can be misleading 36:47- What…

Brian, Alberto, and Brad discuss the benefits of maintenance phases, why they are sometimes superior to gaining phases, and what to consider when setting your rate-of-weight-gain goal. Why do the coaches program less intentional surpluses than they used to? What is the difference between weight maintenance and progress maintenance? Are DEXA scans helpful for programming? How do elite powerlifters put on muscle while minimizing fat gain? If you gain 30 lbs. and your dumbbell bench press goes up 15 lbs., is that progressive overload? Do the coaches ever have athletes do dreamer bulks anymore? In what situations do the coaches tend to program an intentional surplus instead of a maintenance phase? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:32- Why the coaches program less intentional surpluses than they used to 13:43- Weight maintenance vs. Progress Maintenance 19:50- When setting up a gaining phase, consider the profit margin 30:21- If you gain 30 lbs.…

Jeff, Brian, and Brad discuss how a person’s identity as a bodybuilder can change across their training career, why it’s important to see yourself as more than just a bodybuilder, and how having a limited identity can ultimately hold you back. What was Jeff’s relationship with bodybuilding like when he was in his 20s and why does he consider it “ugly”? What did Brad’s life look like when he was too obsessed with bodybuilding? What advice would Brian give his 16-year-old self? How can a person’s identity interfere with them being able to tone things down and have a more balanced approach? How can being hardcore actually be a symptom of being insecure? Why is it important to not tie your identity to a particular type of training? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:39- Who is Jeff without bodybuilding? 13:02- The time in Brad’s life when he was too obsessed with bodybuilding 17:52- What Brian would tell his 16-year-old self 23:31- How a person’s…

Alberto, Eric, and Jeff discuss autoregulating your training while dieting and how learning to autoregulate your training is vital if you want to get the most out of yourself. How do the coaches help their athletes develop the skill of being able to autoregulate their training? How can a person’s personality influence the way they autoregulate their training? How necessary are deloads? How has Eric’s opinion on deload frequency changed? Can a person develop more grit? Why is it beneficial to expose yourself to lifters who have different perspectives than you? What is the best training split? What was Alberto’s biggest lesson from his last prep? Why are “autoregulation” and “intuitive training” *not* the same thing? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:55- How the way Alberto autoregulates his training changes when he’s prepping 7:44- Jeff’s advice for beginner, intermediate, and advanced lifters 16:47- Longer-term patterns Eric has…

Brad, Brian, and Alberto discuss the details that actually matter for fat loss, so you can create an eating routine that works well for you and your schedule. How many times per day do the coaches recommend eating? Does the number of times you eat per day influence your metabolic rate? Do you have to distribute your protein evenly throughout the day? What are the coaches’ thoughts on and what is the effectiveness of intermittent fasting? What are 48-hour feeding windows and how can you use them? What advice do the coaches have around pre workout nutrition? What nutritional details matter more when you’re super lean? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- How Brad ate during prep when he used to work graveyard shifts and how he could have done it better 14:27- Meal-timing recommendations for drug-free athletes 19:08- Protein-distribution recommendations during prep 30:17- Adherence really is the base of the pyramid 34:22- The downsides of always…

Brad, Jeff, and Brian discuss the mindset an athlete needs to have to successfully complete a bodybuilding prep and to feel good about the end results, whatever they are. What motivates the coaches to continue to execute when things get hard? How does Jeff utilize comparison to make prep feel easier? Why does getting weaker not necessarily mean you’re losing muscle? Why is training in higher rep ranges when you’re depleted maybe not the best idea? Should you proactively change your training when you start prep? What is Brad’s advice on what to do to help you feel better during those times you don’t feel good about the way you look? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- How Jeff is feeling 4 days out from his show 2:43- The mindset you have to have to finish a bodybuilding prep 15:04- Trust that the reward is coming and surrender to the process 25:13- The feeling of knowing you did everything you could 29:03- How to handle the parts of prep when you don’t…

The coaches discuss the pros and cons of training with machines versus free weights, what they prefer, and how the value of specific machines differs depending on what stage of your lifting career you are in. How did the coaches view and utilize machines when they first started lifting? What are the downsides of starting with free weights? Which squat pattern does Brian think puts on the most muscle? Why does training to failure on a machine-based squat pattern often feel less demanding than training to failure on a barbell-based squat pattern? What are commonly underdeveloped muscles on those who only train with machines and how to prevent those muscles from becoming underdeveloped? Why aren’t all machines created equal? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- How the coaches viewed and utilized machines when they first started lifting 11:33- The argument against free weights & The argument against machines 35:27- The cost of biasing a muscle when…

Brad, Eric, and Alberto answer seven audience-supplied nutrition and training questions. What are good strategies for hitting your protein goal if you’re in a gaining phase and your appetite is making it difficult for you to eat enough? Is it possible to grow your glutes without significantly growing your quads or hamstrings? At what point should you end a bulk? Is it possible to gain muscle eating at maintenance? Is it possible to gain muscle eating in a deficit? How do the coaches track their training when doing lengthened partials and drop sets? What is the best way to eat and track when you’re in situations where precise tracking isn’t possible? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:12- Strategies for hitting your protein goal in a gaining phase if your appetite is making it difficult for you to eat enough 11:11- Is it possible to grow your glutes without significantly growing your quads or hamstrings? 18:51- At what point do you pull the…

Brad, Alberto, and Brian discuss how common drugs and alcohol can negatively interfere with your bodybuilding goals and what you can do to minimize their negative effects. What are Brad’s experiences with smoking weed and nicotine? What does Brian’s and Alberto’s relationship with and use of nicotine look like? Would Alberto say quitting drinking has been worth it? Can someone drink alcohol and still get shredded? Does a small amount of alcohol provide any health benefits? How can you consume alcohol and still stay on track with your goals? What are the pros of recreational drugs and alcohol? How does marijuana use affect progress? When are good times to get off caffeine/preworkouts? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:23- Brad’s experiences with smoking weed and nicotine 5:10- Brian’s and Alberto’s relationship with and use of nicotine 11:34- Alcohol 17:28- How to consume alcohol while still staying on track with your goals 28:40- Myths…

Brian, Jeff, and Brad discuss how to build a good support system so you can maximize your rate of progress and have fun doing it. What is the origin story of 3D Muscle Journey? How do you communicate what you’re doing and what your goals are so that your support system knows how to support you? What are the benefits of sharing your bodybuilding journey versus bodybuilding in isolation? When prepping an athlete, what else do the coaches focus on besides getting them lean? How far in advance do the coaches recommend telling others that you’re prepping? Where are good places to meet like-minded bodybuilders? Why is a person’s support system such an influential factor in their success? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:37- How to communicate what you’re doing and what your goals are 6:30- Social media can be a good place to find community 10:48- The origin of 3D Muscle Journey 21:08- You also have to support the people in your support system…

Brian, Alberto, and Jeff discuss how much you need to know about programming in order to make continued progress. What did the coaches focus on when they first started lifting? How important is effort for making progress? What is more important, working hard or a more optimal program? What advice to the coaches have for novice lifters when it comes to how to go about their training? What movement patterns do the coaches want their athletes to become proficient at? When is an appropriate time for someone to start dialing in their reps in reserve? What are some common flaws the coaches see in people’s programs? What do the coaches recommend doing before making an adjustment to your program? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:21- What did the coaches focus on when they first started lifting? 12:09- A C- program with A+ effort will take you further than an A+ program with C- effort 14:51- The beauty of a simple plan 22:59- Start with a…

Brad and Alberto discuss why it’s important to look beyond the calorie and macronutrient content of foods if you want to get the most out of your bodybuilding lifestyle. Have the coaches noticed a correlation between food quality and how the body performs and recovers? How does focusing on food quality make prep easier, more enjoyable, and lead to a faster recovery after prep? What nutrition recommendations around food quality do the coaches have for those who are bulking? Is it okay to just eat for taste sometimes? How does the law of diminishing returns apply to eating? As long as he is still hitting his macronutrient targets, can Alberto get just as lean even if he’s not focusing on food quality? The answers to these questions plus many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- The fitness community is finally finding balance 4:15- Have the coaches noticed a correlation between food quality and how the body performs and recovers? 12:03- Your health is important 15:47- Just focusing on hitting…

Brian, Eric, and Brad discuss the misconceptions and utility behind using periodization to help maximize muscular hypertrophy. How important is periodization for muscular hypertrophy? How is periodization different from programming adjustments? Is there a way to sequence your training that maximizes hypertrophy? How do the coaches typically adjust an athlete’s training program from mesocycle to mesocycle? What are the most-common constraints to hypertrophy in the real world? Does research suggest that variation may help increase muscular hypertrophy? What are good reasons for replacing an exercise in your program? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- The definition of periodization and how it’s different from programming adjustments 8:20- Is there a way to sequence your training that maximizes hypertrophy? 18:36- Ways the coaches adjust programming from mesocycle to mesocycle and why they make those adjustments 34:27- The value and roles of education and…

Jeff, Brian, and Brad go through how to build a training session (exercise selection, exercise order, number of sets, rep ranges, tempo, etc.) and clarify how much flexibility there is when it comes to how you structure your sessions. In what situations can it be beneficial to do isolation exercises before compound exercises? What are the coaches’ thoughts on active recovery days? What are Jeff’s thoughts on the strategy of having newer lifters do extra volume to make up for a lack of skill? How can you manage your total volume if you like doing a lot of different exercises? What have the coaches observed is the sweet spot when it comes to number of sets per exercise? If the coaches were to build a *perfect* training day for a robot, what would it look like? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:03- Situations where it can be beneficial to do isolation exercises before compound exercises 19:45- Structuring your split based on how many days…

Brian, Alberto, and Jeff discuss the pros and cons of, “If It Fits Your Macros” (IIFYM), why it’s not the cure-all the fitness community wanted it to be, and how the coaches manage their nutrition instead. Why was IIFYM such a big deal? What did the coaches’ eating look like before IIFYM? What were their early experiences with IIFYM? What are the downsides of having very precise macronutrient targets? How do the coaches start the process of educating their athletes about nutrition? Why does Jeff sometimes assign a fat limit? What advice do the coaches have on setting your macronutrient and/or calorie ranges? What are some of the coaches top IIFYM foods? The answers to all of these questions and more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- What the coaches’ eating looked like before, and their early experiences with, “If It Fits Your Macros” (IIFYM) 15:21- Having precise macronutrient targets is actually quite restrictive 24:35- Why IIFYM was such a big deal 27:46- How the coaches start the process of…

Brad, Alberto, and Jeff discuss strategies they use to manage stress, and how they program for themselves and their athletes based on life stress at the time. What do the coaches do to help ensure they get good sleep? What can you do to improve your sleep quality and quantity? Why is it important to prioritize resting from your work and bodybuilding? How can you undulate your volume based on your schedule? What does advanced bodybuilding look like? What can you do if you’re plateaued on an exercise where you are using double progression? Why is Jeff currently lifting two times per day? What does his setup look like? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- The negative effects of poor sleep 3:07- Why Alberto decided to improve his sleep and the benefits he’s experienced from doing so 8:13- Strategies for improving your sleep quality and quantity 21:21- Prioritize resting from your work and bodybuilding 31:48- Undulate your workload 37:30- What advanced…

Brian, Alberto, Jeff, and Brad discuss what they learned in 2025, how so many different approaches work for hypertrophy, and the things people commonly miss in their quest to be optimal that are making them suboptimal. Can cheat meals sometimes be an effective strategy to use during a fat-loss phase? How has Alberto been getting himself to eat more vegetables? How has the way Brian chooses exercises for his athletes changed over time? Are exercises that are more stable better for hypertrophy? What problems can happen when someone is doing too much volume when there is a high degree of tension in a lengthened position? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:15- You don’t have to be optimal to make progress 16:16- Cheat meals & How Alberto has been getting himself to eat more vegetables 22:05- The importance of community 37:17- Meet people at your gym 45:20- How the way Brian chooses exercises for his athletes has changed over time 52:41- How…

Brad, Alberto, and Brian answer audience-supplied questions about pre-workout nutrition, rest periods, belt squats vs. barbell squats, muscle maturity, sleep hygiene, volume, weekly calorie targets, and more. What do the coaches consume before and during workouts when they train in the morning? What is the coaches’ advice for those who keep having unsuccessful fat loss phases? If you are struggling with cravings, hunger, and/or feeling deprived during a fat-loss phase, what can help? Are belt squats better than barbell squats and leg press for a bodybuilder? If the coaches could only do overhead pressing or lateral raises, which would they choose? What advice do the coaches have for those whose sleep is very negatively affected when they are in a calorie deficit? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Tips for pre-workout meals during prep for athletes who train first thing in the morning 8:22- How long is too long to rest between sets? 14:02- If you are…

Jeff, Brian, and Brad share their opinions on and the times and places for aggressive fat-loss phases. If someone has a lot of fat to lose, can they be more aggressive with their calorie deficit? Does Jeff personally run aggressive fat-loss phases? What is Brian’s advice to someone who wants to lose weight quickly? Why do the coaches usually recommend a more conservative approach when it comes to fat loss? What are the pitfalls of aggressive fat-loss phases? What can you do to make being hungry easier? What is the role of physical activity in fat loss? What is the coaches’ advice on running fat-loss phases for those who have big bodybuilding goals? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:41- Jeff’s opinion on aggressive fat-loss phases 3:54- Brian’s advice to someone who wants to lose weight quickly 10:02- The coaches’ advice on running fat-loss phases for those who have big bodybuilding goals 26:02- Too much too fast 30:45- Strategies for creating…

Brad, Alberto, Jeff, and Brian discuss different types of evidence, where to get them, how to use them, and the problem with relying too much on one type of data. Who do the coaches learn from? When do the coaches go against science-based recommendations? What is the difference between outcome data and mechanistic data? Why do the coaches caution against being “anti bro”? Who are science-based recommendations for? What is the problem with purely science-based lifting? Which types of evidence do the coaches use to program their own and their athletes’ training? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Post-workout anabolic window 3:06- Alberto’s take on evidence-based recommendations and who he learns from 8:52- Jeff’s take on evidence-based recommendations 15:26- Brian’s take on where to get and how to use evidence-based recommendations 23:26- How relying too much on one type of data (including science-based!) can result in less progress 36:07- Who…

Alberto, Brad, Brian, and Jeff discuss their all-time favorite lifting cues, how and why they prioritize getting a good stimulus over beating the logbook, and the usefulness of focusing on the mind-muscle connection. How do the coaches approach lifting differently in contest prep compared to the offseason? Why do decreases in strength not necessarily mean a loss of muscle? Why can changes in body weight affect how certain exercises feel? What valuable feedback can a pump give you? For hypertrophy, does the concentric phase of an exercise need to be explosive or is a slower tempo just as effective? What are some of the coaches’ favorite cues when performing Romanian deadlifts, the barbell bench press, calf raises, and back exercises? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:30- How the coaches approach lifting differently in contest prep compared to the offseason 18:53- Why changes in body weight can affect how certain exercises feel 35:00-…

Jeff, Brian, Alberto, and Brad discuss the underrated and underleveraged role of consistency in the achievement of one’s strength and physique goals. What keeps the coaches so consistent with their training? If you are struggling with being consistent, what can you do to help you become more consistent? Why and how do the coaches make sure they are enjoying their training? Once you are consistent, what can you do to unlock new levels of progress? What are the potential benefits of purposely having phases where you aren’t doing as much as you are capable of? How can you fall in love with training again after prep is over? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:39- It’s not the high volume, it’s not the sweet potato, it’s not the squat, it’s the consistency 10:10- Make sure you are doing the *right things* consistently 13:13- Brad’s secret behind why he’s so consistent with his training 22:40- What keeps Brian so consistent with his training…

Alberto, Jeff, and Brian share why they have chosen to stay natural, why they are glad they have, and give advice to younger lifters who are considering using steroids, SARMs, etc. Were the coaches ever tempted to use performance-enhancing drugs? What ultimately deterred them from using them? What are good questions to ask yourself if you are considering using steroids, SARMs, etc.? What are the pros of staying natural? What is the coaches’ advice if you do decide to use performance-enhancing drugs? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:13- Why Jeff has chosen to stay natural 11:25- Why Alberto has chosen to stay natural 21:19- Why Brian has chosen to stay natural 30:43- There is longevity with natural bodybuilding 38:07- Advice for those considering using steroids, SARMs, etc. 50:48- High-level natural physiques are much more impressive than the statistics indicate 1:05:34- Good questions to ask yourself if you’re considering using steroids,…

Jeff, Alberto, Brian, and Brad share their wisdom, experiences, traps they’ve fallen for, and common present-day obstacles to help you get the most out of your intermediate phase. What mistakes did the coaches make when they were intermediate lifters? What is the definition of an intermediate lifter and what rate of progress should they expect? What should you look for and watch out for when picking your mentors? What are some common counterproductive trends the coaches see among intermediate lifters right now? What are things to consider before using steroids or SARMs? What is the difference between an intermediate lifter and an intermediate bodybuilder? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:19- Mistakes the coaches made when they were intermediate lifters 14:00- What to look for and what to watch out for when picking your mentors 28:15- Consume long-form content 32:45- Common counterproductive trends the coaches see among intermediate…

Alberto, Jeff, Brad, and Brian go through a variety of scenarios discussing what they recommend doing in each one. How beneficial are aggressive bulks? What lessons did Alberto learn from his dreamer’s bulk? What are the coaches’ thoughts on conservative versus aggressive bulking? What is the recommended ratio of lean-gaining phases to fat-loss phases? Can you gain muscle eating at maintenance? What should you do if you gain too much weight? How does Alberto decide if someone is ready to run a fat-loss phase? When do the coaches have an athlete run a fat-loss phase in the offseason? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:50- Lessons Alberto learned from his dreamer’s bulk 5:26- The coaches’ advice for someone who is a late novice or early intermediate and is at 15-20% body fat 29:32- Those who should be more assertive with gaining weight 38:46- What to do if you gain too much weight 57:29- How Alberto decides if someone is ready to run a…

Brian, Jeff, and Brad discuss what to do the night before and day of your bodybuilding competition to help ensure you look and feel your best onstage. What is the difference between water flat, sodium flat, and carb flat? How much time does Jeff want between the last meal an athlete eats and when they step onstage? If you are spilled on competition day, what can you do to fix it? What eating strategy leads to the fullest sharpest look for most people? How do the coaches analyze an athlete the night before their show to help ensure they peak well? Do the coaches prefer an athlete to be slightly spilled or slightly flat the night before their show? The answers to these questions and many many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:43- How Jeff likes to give his athletes feedback 8:32- There is only so much you can do on show day 23:39- What to do the night before your show to help ensure you look your best on show day 48:16- How the coaches coach their athletes on the day of their…

Brian, Jeff, Alberto, and Brad discuss how to set up your off-season plan so that you can have the most productive off-season possible. Is it normal to feel unmotivated to train after the end of a contest prep? What advice do the coaches have if you’re feeling this way? Should you increase, decrease, or keep your training volume the same immediately after the final show of your season? The more advanced you become, do you require larger surpluses, or do you benefit just as much if not more from a smaller surplus? How do the coaches recommend setting up your training split? How do you find your ideal off-season body weight? How do the coaches choose which exercises they are going to include in their program? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:48- Make sure you fully recover & Planning your off-season 11:53- The coaches’ advice if you’re feeling burned-out on training after the end of your contest prep 22:49- Identifying which body parts…

Alberto, Brad, and Brian answer audience-supplied questions about using straps vs. a mixed grip, starting a diet more aggressively vs. more conservatively, warming up, refeeds, training with only dumbbells, and a lot more. Can deadlifting with a mixed grip create muscular imbalances and/or lead to injury? At what age do most bodybuilders hit their max size? What are some strategies for putting on more muscle if you’re over 40? Why is it good to take a defensive approach when prepping? How many warm-up sets should you do for your heavier compound exercises? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 3:02- Can deadlifting with a mixed grip create muscular imbalances? What are the coaches’ thoughts on using straps versus a mixed grip? 7:24- At what age do most bodybuilders hit their max size? What are some strategies for putting on more muscle if you’re over 40? 19:35- If your goal is to lose 1 lb. per week, should you immediately decrease your intake by…

Brad, Jeff, Alberto, and Brian discuss how to successfully manage your appetite during prep, strategies to lower hunger, how to prevent binges, and what to do if you binge. In Alberto’s opinion, what is the most-important meal when prepping? Is it sometimes a good idea to actually lower your protein intake so that you can increase your carbohydrate intake? What can help you decide how to spread your calories out throughout the day? What are some of the coaches’ best hunger hacks? What should you do about your trigger foods? What is the difference between physical hunger, emotional hunger, and social hunger? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:15- Reframing strategies for managing hunger 18:04- How Brad manages his appetite during prep 21:24- 3 types of hunger 25:08- Trigger foods 37:17- Limiting accessibility, setting up a good routine, and limiting your choices 48:25- Eliminating wasted motion 55:11- The panic of starvation 59:43- Keep…

The happier you are, the better off your bodybuilding is going to be. Brian, Brad, Jeff, and Alberto discuss how to balance bodybuilding with the rest of your life, times they got the balance wrong, and how to avoid common pitfalls that can come from living a bodybuilding lifestyle. What can you do to get more comfortable eating in social settings? What are some cringe moments the coaches had when they put bodybuilding ahead of more important things in life? What is the law of diminishing returns when it comes to eating? How can you celebrate a special day or special event during prep while still staying on track with your goals? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:11- Times when the coaches *weren’t* doing a good job of balancing bodybuilding with the rest of their life 26:15- How to avoid pitfalls that are common with a bodybuilding lifestyle 30:04- Exposing yourself to the discomfort 36:58- Being pliable with your training 45:39- What…

Alberto, Brian, Brad, and Jeff discuss why it’s important to track your training, who should track their training, and what details to track based on your experience level. What issues can happen when someone is too focused on beating the logbook? Do the coaches ever have an athlete track volume load or is that a thing of the past? What are the coaches’ thoughts on decreasing load to work on technique? How can increasing load too quickly result in a reduced stimulus? How can reducing loads during prep potentially lead to more muscle retention? What recommendation do the coaches have for those who don’t like tracking their training? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:25- Did the coaches track their training when they first started lifting? 19:51- Who should track? When should they track? Why should they track? 33:50- Things *not* worth tracking 42:10- Film yourself lifting and study your technique 57:24- How long to stay with a certain…

Brian, Alberto, Jeff, and Brad discuss how fast someone should be losing weight based on their goals. Why is it important to pay attention to how you feel and not get too hung up on the numbers? What often happens to people when they get leaner than they are ready for? What factors influence how quickly someone should lose weight? What are the benefits of taking a phasic approach to fat loss? How necessary are mini-cuts? How long should a mini-cut last and how lean should someone be by the end of one? In what ways are a contest prep and general fat-loss phase similar? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:09- How Alberto’s diet is different now that he’s started prepping 5:26- Factors that influence pacing 18:33- Where the concept of contest prep positioning came from 23:24- You have to look at your own history 31:08- The benefits of taking a phasic approach to fat loss 38:35- How necessary are mini-cuts? 58:43- Mini-cut methods and length…

Alberto, Jeff, Brad, and Brian discuss all the costs (financial, time, health, etc.) to consider when planning a contest prep. What are the financial costs associated with prepping for and competing in a bodybuilding show? What is the coaches’ order of operations in terms of when to purchase what over the course of a contest prep? Why do the coaches recommend waiting to sign up for the show you’re planning on competing in? When is a good time to schedule your polygraph test and tan? What costs other than money come with dedicating yourself to the sport of bodybuilding? How do the coaches pick what shows they are going to compete in and how do they help their athletes choose shows? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- The financial cost of prepping and competing 11:51- The cost of coaching 17:05- The coaches’ order of operations in terms of when to purchase what over the course of a contest prep 24:46- When to pay the entry fee, schedule your polygraph…

Eric, Brad, and Alberto discuss programming and exercise technique strategies to make your back training more effective. Why does training your back require a bit more strategy than other muscle groups? What are the coaches’ recommended movement patterns for complete back development? Do muscles only grow uniformly or is it possible to get regional hypertrophy? How much range of motion should you aim to get when performing lengthened partials? What are some different ways you can track your back training when performing partial reps? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- How Alberto made such big improvements in his back last offseason 6:50- Why training your back requires a bit more strategy than other muscle groups 13:10- Volume & Frequency 32:02- Quality over quantity 35:53- Alberto’s aha moment 41:12- Mistaking an absence of evidence for evidence of absence/Clinging too tightly to research 50:20- Why some people can get more lengthened partial reps…

Alberto, Steve, and Brian discuss what orthorexic behaviors can look like in bodybuilders and how these behaviors can lead to suboptimal progress and a reduced quality of life. What is the coaches’ experience with orthorexia personally and with their athletes? What are some common behaviors the coaches see that are unnecessary and suboptimal? Why do people sometimes still do things they know they don’t need to do? What are some strategies to combat orthorexic behaviors? What are the benefits of having a calorie and protein target instead of a protein, carbohydrate, and fat target? When is a specific behavior or fear a problem? Why is being more precise not always better? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:37- What is orthorexia? 8:03- What the coaches do when they notice an athlete/client is starting to develop orthorexic behaviors 23:21- Why people sometimes still do things they know they don’t need to do 29:02- There is nothing…

Eric, Jeff, and Brian discuss the intersection between effort, mind muscle connection, and biomechanics to give you more flexibility in your technique, exercise selection, and programming. How important is having a good mind muscle connection when performing an exercise? Does rep speed matter as long as you’re hitting the appropriate proximity to failure? How much of a difference does training at longer muscle lengths really make? What are Eric’s current principles for exercise selection? Can you still make good progress (in regard to hypertrophy) if you vary your exercises frequently? How can you develop a better mind muscle connection? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 0:56- What Jeff likes his athletes to focus on during the execution of an exercise 9:12- There is flexibility in both exercise selection and technique 20:53- The importance of exercise selection when trying to optimize hypertrophy 29:58- Eric’s principles for exercise…

Brian, Alberto, and Brad discuss the importance of progress pictures, how to take them, how often to take them, and explain the difference between social media friendly progress pictures and progress pictures that are actually going to help you get better. How do the coaches like their athletes to take their progress pictures? What lighting do they prefer? What attire do they prefer? How often do they recommend taking progress pictures when prepping? How often do they recommend taking progress pictures in the offseason? Why does Alberto prefer video over photos for athletes who are prepping? How can you use your phone to help you learn how to pose? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:20- The coaches’ first set of progress pictures 9:24- How the coaches like their athletes to take their progress pictures 27:10- Videos vs. Pictures 37:48- Why the coaches prefer honest lighting 47:00- Bodybuilding is a visual sport 50:00- Using your phone to…

Brian and Jeff answer audience-supplied questions about recovery, refeeds, periodization, food focus, exercise selection, posing, and more. Is it okay to train through some soreness or should you wait until the soreness is gone to train? What are the coaches’ thoughts on cheat meals and cheat days? When is the best time to have a refeed? If someone is training for hypertrophy, how often do they need to change their training? If someone’s goal is maximum strength, do they need to run strength blocks, hypertrophy blocks, etc.? What does a good relationship with food look like? Is unilateral or bilateral training better for muscle growth? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:20- How do you know if you are recovered? Is it okay to train through some soreness or should you wait until the soreness is gone before you train? 15:06- What are the coaches’ thoughts on cheat meals and cheat days? When is the best time to have a refeed? 32:15- If…

Eric, Alberto, and Jeff discuss how they review an athlete’s season with the athlete to help them process their emotions, see their achievements, develop a perspective that is going to help them, and determine what they need to work on in the offseason to have a better physique and prep next time they compete. What can you do to help you process a show or season where you didn’t place as well as you wanted, so that you have a more positive outlook on the experience? Why is it critical to know your limits and have realistic expectations going into a show or season? How can you channel your competitive drive to support your goals as well as to help prevent a big emotional fallout? How do the coaches help an athlete decide on what body parts to focus on in the offseason? How much weight should you give the judges’ feedback? When you’re critiquing your physique, should you compare it to the physiques of the other athletes that were in your lineup, or should you critique it on its own? The answers to these, plus…

Brad, Jeff, and Brian discuss the unavoidable side effect of generating fatigue, the current fear of doing too much that is causing some athletes to miss out on productive stretches of training, and many different strategies for managing fatigue and improving performance. What are the coaches’ thoughts on decreasing your calorie intake on rest days and during deloads? How can you structure your training around your refeeds to maximize performance in the gym? What are the limitations of choosing your exercises solely based on their theoretical stimulus-to-fatigue ratio? Can some people recover from more volume than others? How does fatigue affect your look and weight? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:37- What is “fatigue” and is it necessary? 6:49- How Brad assesses if fatigue is affecting an athlete’s training 9:20- How Jeff helps his athletes balance supply and demand 19:34- What is “recovery” and how is it typically defined in sports…

The big question…Is long-duration static stretching redundant if someone is already resistance training or does it provide complementary effects? Nick, Eric, and Brad discuss this and many other stretching-related questions. Does static stretching before exercise help prevent injury? Can stretching cause muscular hypertrophy? How could someone use static stretching to potentially help prevent or reduce detraining when traveling? How does Brad commonly program stretching for his athletes? When are good times to static stretch? How intense should your stretching be? What are signs you should stop a stretch? Can resistance training itself improve range of motion? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:51- Stretching for injury prevention 13:09- How Brad incorporates stretching into his day and how he commonly programs stretching for his athletes 19:54- How stretching could be beneficial for strength and physique athletes 30:10- What Brad has his…

Jeff, Alberto, and Brian share how they eat and train when traveling, both during prep and in the offseason. The coaches also go over the importance of becoming a resilient bodybuilder. How has Jeff gotten more comfortable traveling during prep? How do the coaches decide on what to eat when they’re at a restaurant? What is the one food Alberto always travels with? What suggestions do the coaches have when it comes to foods you can eat while you’re traveling to your destination? How did Alberto win his first pro show by peaking on foods he bought at gas stations? What advice do the coaches have when it comes to training when you’re on vacation? What are the coaches’ go-to bodyweight exercises? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:54- How Jeff has gotten more comfortable traveling during prep 8:28- Brian and Jeff’s mindset around training when traveling 16:20- Alberto’s mindset around traveling and eating out 21:15- The importance of exposing…

Brian, Alberto, and Brad discuss the benefits of making your training fun and a bunch of different things they do to keep themselves and their athletes excited about their training. What do many people overlook on their quest for “optimal”? What can you do during a set to help keep you engaged and help you push yourself? How can getting your emotions involved in your training help with progress? How does having fun affect your perceived level of effort? How can you autoregulate your exercise selection to help keep your training fun while also getting a good stimulus? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Why and how the coaches gamify their training 30:05- The benefits of being excited about your training 39:46- Get a training partner 43:31- Fatigue mongering 53:01- Do things you’re good at 59:59- Final thoughts Selected Links From This Episode Cardio For Fat Loss (Vault Course)- https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/cardio The 3DMJ Vault-…

Eric and Steve discuss how our food choices affect our weight, digestive system, and how we feel. They also go through dietary changes you can make to help optimize the functioning of your digestive system. Why is it important to give your body time to adapt to the dietary changes you make? What are some dietary adjustments you can try if you’re struggling with constipation or bloating? What is fiber and what are the potential benefits of consuming a high-fiber diet? Does it matter which foods you get your fiber from? How can fiber provide calories? How should you track fiber? How can you know if you are consuming enough fluids? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- How changes in food choices, sodium intake, and bowel movement frequency can affect your weight 7:47- What is fiber? 14:41- How can fiber provide calories? How much can it provide? 20:07- Fiber is more than just soluble and insoluble 32:59- Some of the things Steve reviews when someone comes to…

Alberto, Eric, and Jeff discuss how to know if you are progressing at a good rate for your genetics and where you are at in your lifting career, what to do if you aren’t, and the importance of having realistic expectations about how quickly you can progress. What is the difference between progressive overload and progression? Do you want to be more proactive or reactive when it comes to increasing and decreasing load? What is “autoregulated double progression” and how can you use it to help you get the most out of every session? What percentage of hypertrophy is related to volume? What undesirable things can happen when someone puts too much emphasis on beating the logbook? The answers to these questions and many, many, many, more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- The difference between progressive overload and progression 4:57- Being reactive vs. Proactive when it comes to increasing and decreasing load 13:26- Where the coaches think the expectation that we need to progress every gym session…

Brad, Jeff, and Brian talk about times they felt and still feel isolated and misunderstood during their bodybuilding journeys. Along with sharing stories from their past, the coaches give advice to those who feel isolated and misunderstood. What is the coaches’ advice to those who have friends and family who don’t understand why they compete in bodybuilding? How do the coaches balance bodybuilding with their marriages? How important is having support from others? Do the coaches ever feel isolated as coaches? What are the pros and cons of being an online coach? Do the coaches think artificial intelligence will someday take the place of human coaches? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Where the coaches got their information from when they first got into bodybuilding 7:54- During the beginning of their bodybuilding journeys the coaches often felt misunderstood 20:25- Who are you surrounding yourself with? 30:43- How the coaches balance bodybuilding with…

Brian, Nick, and Brad discuss how to grow your arms and delts while keeping your joints pain-free and healthy. How have the coaches’ views changed when it comes to programming direct arm and delt volume? What tips does the team’s physical therapist have for training your delts if you’re dealing with shoulder pain? If you can’t train a muscle in its lengthened position, is it even worth training it? What are good progression strategies for isolation exercises? Do you need to have isolation exercises for the posterior head of the deltoid in your program to keep your shoulders healthy? What are the group’s go-to exercises for their biceps, triceps, and delts? Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 8:27- How the coaches design an athlete’s program when the athlete is wanting to prioritize arm growth 15:34- Tips for training your delts if you’re dealing with shoulder pain 23:20- Overdoing volume where there is a high degree of tension when the muscle is in a lengthened position 35:56- Isolation exercises might be a better…

Andrea, Brian, and Alberto host an audience-supplied Q&A session. Topics range from programming, to lifting equipment, dietary strategies when trying to put on muscle, shifting your mindset towards recovery post prep, and more. With non barbell exercises, why would you do high reps if you can reach failure in a lower rep range easier and faster? How concerned should you be about time under tension? How do you incorporate RPE when doing drop sets, rest pause, and super sets? What are the coaches’ thoughts on lifting in shoes with an elevated heel? When is wearing shoes with an elevated heel beneficial? Can *everyone* recomp eating at maintenance? Who do the coaches recommend be in a slight surplus instead on eating at maintenance? Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:17- With non-barbell compound exercises, why would you do high reps if you can reach failure in a lower rep range easier and faster? 9:09- How often do the coaches change an athlete’s rep range on a particular exercise? 13:23- How concerned should you…