Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! If you feel like you have to be in a fat loss phase all year to stay in shape, your building phases are probably the problem. In this episode, I go over how to run a building phase without unnecessary fat gain, starting with the expectations you need going in and how I set up calories and macros with clients. I also cover the habits that keep fat gain in check, like not saving all your calories for the end of the day, fueling around your workouts...

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Aaron Straker, founder of Straker Nutrition Co. and co-host of the Eat Train Prosper Podcast with Bryan Boorstein, is back on for the third time. Aaron recently earned his IFBB Pro card in men’s physique and just moved back to the States after four years in Bali. In this episode, we talk about how he’s running his offseason build and how he’s working to bring up his upper back after his first bodybuilding season. We also get into his low-volume l...

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Whether you need to eat before a workout depends on the type of training you’re doing. In this episode, I break down how I approach pre-workout nutrition with clients for both body composition and performance, including when training fasted makes sense, when it can hold you back, and what to eat if you do have something beforehand. I also cover how your timing changes based on when you train and why heavy meals high in fat and fiber can hurt your...

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Cody McBroom, founder of Tailored Coaching Method and host of the Choose Hard Podcast, is back on for the second time. In this episode, we talk about building discipline, confidence, and habits that last when motivation runs out. Cody walks through his Self-Formation Framework, the four stages he uses to help clients create real behavior change. We also cover why "just try harder" doesn't work, how the way you talk to yourself affects your follow...

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Muscle growth is already a slow process, and a lot of what we do with our nutrition slows it down even more. In this episode, I break down the most common nutrition mistakes I see holding people back from building muscle, including eating too few calories, spending too much of the year dieting, and being inconsistent with your intake. I also cover how much protein you actually need and how to spread it out, how to set up your nutritio...

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Carbs are always a hot topic. Some people think they're the reason you can't lose fat, and others think you need as many as possible to perform. In this episode, I go over nine carb mistakes I see that could be hurting your physique and performance, from staying low carb all year to assuming more carbs always means better training. I also cover what actually determines how many carbs you need, why placing carbs around your workouts matters,...

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Nutrition can make or break a body recomp phase. In this episode, Brandon DaCruz is back on for part three of our body recomp series, and we break down the nutrition strategies we use with clients, including deficit size, protein intake and distribution, carbohydrate quality and timing, calorie cycling, and dietary fat. We also catch up on training and life, including training around a new baby, time-efficient training techniques, and Brandon's c...

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Progressive overload is one of the most important parts of building muscle, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode I break down my framework for applying progressive overload. I cover how hard your sets should be and how I use rep ranges. From there I explain when to add weight versus when to stay at the same weight to build reps. I also get into why you don't need to beat your numbers every session. Exercise order and...

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Hunger is a normal part of fat loss, but not all hunger comes from a true physiological need for more energy. In this episode, I break down the difference between physiological hunger and what I call self-inflicted hunger. I cover what can increase physiological hunger, including an energy deficit, getting leaner, higher activity, and being further from your highest body fat level. I also go over the habits that can make hunger worse, such as low...

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Calorie cycling can be a useful tool during both fat loss and building phases. In this episode, I break down how I use calorie cycling, including redistributing calories throughout the week, increasing or decreasing the weekly deficit, and using higher-calorie days around training. I also cover practical examples of how to set up calorie cycling during fat loss, when lower-calorie or protein-sparing modified fast days may make sense, and how I us...