Muscle for Life

This episode is part of a weekly series that I have dubbed “Motivation Monday.” (Yes, I know, very creative of me. What can I say, I’m a genius…) Seriously though, the idea here is simple: Every Monday morning, I’m going to post a short and punchy episode that I hope gets you fired up to tackle the workouts, work, and everything else that you have planned for the week ahead. As we all know, it’s one thing to know what you want to do, but it’s something else altogether to actually make yourself do it, and I hope that this series gives you a jolt of inspiration, energy, and encouragement to get at it. So, if you like what you hear, then make sure to check back every Monday morning for the latest and greatest installment. Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter! Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

Today’s guest is Strauss Zelnick, who’s known in the Fortune 500 circles as the “world’s fittest CEO.” At 61 years old, Strauss maintains a two-a-day workout schedule while running the media juggernaut Take-Two Interactive, which has given us blockbuster video game franchises like Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and NBA 2K, as well as his private equity firm, Zelnick Media Capital, which has about $12 billion in assets. Oh and Strauss also has managed to do all of that while also being a husband to his wife of nearly 30 years and father to his three children, which is no small feat, either. As you can tell, I’m kind of a fan of Strauss’. You just don’t get to meet people like him very often. So, in this interview, Strauss talks about his upcoming book called Becoming Ageless, which is his personal blueprint for looking and feeling young and vibrant at any age, as well as his thoughts on a number of topics, including work-life balance, goal setting and achievement, key life lessons learned, and more. I

Like most everything related to health and fitness, there are quite a few opinions on warming up for your workouts. Some people say it’s vital. That skipping it not only impairs your workout performance but greatly increases the risk of injury. Others say it looks like a waste of time because it is. I mean, have you ever seen a lion “warm up” before it takes down a gazelle? Who’s right? Well, both are, to a degree. What many people do to warm up is rather pointless. You know, twenty minutes on the treadmill, followed by stretching, rubber banded twisting, hopping, and bending, and so forth. There are much more productive ways to use that time, and that’s what we’re going to talk about in this podcast. As you’ll soon see, a proper warm-up routine is an essential part of gaining muscle and strength safely and effectively. You can take heart, too, because it’s easier and faster than you probably think. A good warm-up is short and simple, and helps you have noticeably better workouts. So, let’s get to it. Want to

One of the most important aspects of weightlifting is progression. This is the difference between exercise (moving your body to burn calories and improve health) and training (exercising according to a plan designed to produce specific long-term outcomes). This is the key to avoiding stagnation in muscle and strength gain, and to breaking through the many plateaus that will occur throughout your fitness journey. There are a number of ways to progress in your weightlifting workouts, but many of the most practical and effective ones share this in common: They involve prescribed levels of difficulty in individual sets. In other words, some sets are supposed to be moderately challenging, while others are supposed to involve near-maximum effort. For example, one of my favorite progression models is known as double progression, and it works like this: You work with a given weight in a given rep range, and once you hit the top of that rep range for one, two, or three sets (depending on the programming), you move up

This episode is part of a weekly series that I have dubbed “Motivation Monday.” (Yes, I know, very creative of me. What can I say, I’m a genius…) Seriously though, the idea here is simple: Every Monday morning, I’m going to post a short and punchy episode that I hope gets you fired up to tackle the workouts, work, and everything else that you have planned for the week ahead. As we all know, it’s one thing to know what you want to do, but it’s something else altogether to actually make yourself do it, and I hope that this series gives you a jolt of inspiration, energy, and encouragement to get at it. So, if you like what you hear, then make sure to check back every Monday morning for the latest and greatest installment. Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter! Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

In this podcast I interview bestselling author and competitive triathlete Ben Greenfield, and we talk about how strength training, muscle building, exercise, and diet affect aging, longevity, and health. If you follow Ben and his work, you know that this is his primary hobbyhorse. He’s obsessed with figuring out innovative and cutting-edge ways to improve his body and mind, and in this show, he shares some of his most recent thoughts and strategies for optimizing his life. Here are some of the things we talk about in this episode… The role of muscle mass and strength in aging and longevity. The effect of protein intake and intermittent fasting on health. The ketogenic diet for performance and health. And more... 11:12 -  What are your thoughts on muscle mass and longevity? 16:56 - What about the research showing an association between longevity and total lean mass? 23:53 - If you have sleep, diet, training, and stress under control, how much does it matter if you don't fast, or eat protein daily? 24:41 - Is

Years ago, I was stuck in a rut in the gym, I was making minimum payments on tens of thousands of dollars of credit card debt, and I had no idea where I should go in my life, let alone how to get there. Today, I’m a “super-fit” bestselling author with over one million books sold, and the owner and founder of several 7- and 8-figure businesses, including Muscle for Life, Legion Athletics, and Oculus Publishers (And more importantly, I also found a unicorn for a wife who has given me two kids who are kinda the coolest.) How the hell did all that happen? Did I sell my soul to the Dread Lord Cthulhu? Discover the one weird trick to melting belly fat, debt, and existential angst. . . in just 5 minutes per day? Develop an expensive but highly productive cocaine habit? Not quite. What really happened is, well, kind of boring: I read scores of books, worked thousands of hours, and overcame more setbacks than I can count. In other words, I did the hard stuff that most people don’t want to do, and I’m ready to share th

Once you understand the mechanics proper dieting, getting lean isn’t all that difficult. Sure, it’s never easy in the way that gaining weight is easy, but most of us can plod through a couple months of cutting to get some abs for the summer. The real challenge is staying lean. For the long haul. That’s what separates the fitness champions from the rest of the contenders. That’s why I invited my friend Marc Perry on the podcast. He’s the founder of BuiltLean.com, and when it comes to staying absolutely shredded month after month, year after year, he walks the walk. He also manages to do it without losing his mind, which makes it all the more impressive. In this show, you’ll learn about the habits, systems, and skills Marc has developed to stay ripped. Here’s a little sneak peek of what you’ll learn in today’s interview: The things you do and don’t have to sacrifice to stay really lean What kind exercise schedule it takes How much you can get away with “cheating” before it becomes a problem What you can expect

This episode is part of a weekly series that I have dubbed “Motivation Monday.” (Yes, I know, very creative of me. What can I say, I’m a genius…) Seriously though, the idea here is simple: Every Monday morning, I’m going to post a short and punchy episode that I hope gets you fired up to tackle the workouts, work, and everything else that you have planned for the week ahead. As we all know, it’s one thing to know what you want to do, but it’s something else altogether to actually make yourself do it, and I hope that this series gives you a jolt of inspiration, energy, and encouragement to get at it. So, if you like what you hear, then make sure to check back every Monday morning for the latest and greatest installment. Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter! Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

In this episode, I interview the co-founder and former lead researcher and writer of Examine.com Kurtis Frank on the truth about branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).  For years now, BCAAs have been a staple supplement in the bodybuilding scene. If you’ve ever seen a muscleboy or girl in the gym lugging around a gallon jug of fluorescent liquid, chances are it’s water and BCAAs. BCAAs are extremely popular because they supposedly help us build muscle faster when we’re bulking and retain muscle better when we’re cutting. A number of studies are often cited to support such claims too, and if you take the research at face value, it all seems to add up. The problem is when you roll up your sleeves and take a closer look at the research and weight of the evidence on the whole, a very different picture emerges.  As you’ll discover in this podcast, BCAAs really don’t have much to offer beyond making your water more tasty, unless you’re an athlete—in that case, there is one legitimate use for BCAAs that might be releva

In this episode I interview Nick, who’s 40 years old and recently completed my 90-day coaching service. In this interview we talk about how he found his way to me and my work, including what he had tried previously, how things changed after he started implementing the advice in my books and articles, and how my 90-day coaching service helped him lose 19 pounds, 11% body fat, and 6 inches off of his waist, while also maintaining his strength on all of his big lifts. As with everything, nothing ever goes exactly as planned, and learning to adjust and adapt to conditions is an important part of the fitness game, which is something Nick experienced firsthand. He ran into a number of roadblocks along the way that most of us can relate to, including issues with workout and meal scheduling, hunger and cravings, dietary temptations, and more, and in our chat, Nick shares what has helped him navigate these barriers skillfully and prevent them from getting in his way. So, if you like hearing motivational stories about

In this episode, I interview James Clear, who runs the very popular blog JamesClear.com, where he writes about many facets of the science of self improvement. I enjoy reading James’ writing because it’s simple, clear, and practical, and chock full of interesting studies, examples, and anecdotes. If you peruse his website, you’ll quickly realize that James’ hobbyhorse is habits, and that’s the topic of today’s interview (and his upcoming book, which I’m excited to check out later this year). Here are a few things you’re going to learn in this episode: Why you should focus on systems instead of goals when you want to achieve something. Why making habits a part of your identity makes them easier to stick to. How perfectionism can be productive or counterproductive, depending on how you use it. And more...   3:56 - What are systems over goals and environment over motivation? 5:59 - What is the difference between a system and a goal? 11:51 - What is the difference between a system and a goal? 20:09 - How can cha

You’re here because you want to lose weight fast, and that’s completely understandable. Whether you have a lot or a little fat to lose, the sooner it’s over, the better. You have to be careful what you wish for, though, because if you go about it incorrectly—like most people do—you may just wind up skinny fat. In other words, if you do what most people do—starve yourself and do a bunch of cardio—you’ll lose weight alright, but you’re probably not going to be happy with what you see in the mirror. The reason for this is most rapid weight loss protocols are essentially “crash diets” that burn just as much muscle as fat, which ruins your body composition. The goal, then, isn’t to lose weight as quickly as possible, but to lose fat and not muscle as quickly as possible. That’s how you get lean, toned, and defined, not skinny, flabby, and weak. And when that’s the goal, you have to do things very differently. The good news, though, is the better way is also easier than you probably think. That’s right, once you kn

This episode is part of a weekly series that I have dubbed “Motivation Monday.” (Yes, I know, very creative of me. What can I say, I’m a genius…) Seriously though, the idea here is simple: Every Monday morning, I’m going to post a short and punchy episode that I hope gets you fired up to tackle the workouts, work, and everything else that you have planned for the week ahead. As we all know, it’s one thing to know what you want to do, but it’s something else altogether to actually make yourself do it, and I hope that this series gives you a jolt of inspiration, energy, and encouragement to get at it. So, if you like what you hear, then make sure to check back every Monday morning for the latest and greatest installment. Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter! Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

In this episode, I speak with the grandfather of barbell training, Mark Rippetoe, who has given us many a great things, including books that everyone should read, Starting Strength and Practical Programming. I’m a fan of Mark and his work, of course, because nobody has done more to promote, teach, and defend barbell training than Rip, and also because of his peppery personality, which always makes for a fun conversation. This time around, we talk about the deadlift and its many subtleties and variations. There are a number of factors that ultimately determine how well you can deadlift that are out of your control—your limb lengths, bone structure, height, and so forth—but there are also many things that you can control, like your technique, tools, and training methods, and these are what you’re going to learn about in this podcast with Mark. Whether you’re new to the deadlift or trying add a few more pounds to your powerlifting totals, I think you’re going to find today’s talk helpful, because we discuss a nu

Rep ranges and muscle building is a controversial topic. Some people believe that you can maximize muscle building by training with high reps and light weights (

Many people think weightlifting is inherently dangerous, and I understand why. When you compare deadlifting, squatting, and bench pressing gargantuan amounts of weight to other forms of exercise, like jogging, cycling, or calisthenics, weightlifting looks more like a death wish than a discipline. Poke around on Internet forums and you’ll find plenty to feed your anxiety. Personal stories range from the tame--mild joint and muscle aches and the like--to the downright horrific and debilitating, with some long-time bodybuilders so incapacitated that they can’t even tie their shoes until the ibuprofen kicks in. If that isn't enough, there's plenty of video evidence, too. I’ll save your eyes (and appetite), but trust me--serious weightlifting injuries can be particularly gruesome. And so weightlifting, and strength training in particular, has been saddled with a bum rap for decades now. Thankfully, the tides are changing and strength training is gaining more and more mainstream popularity, but many people still th

Why are some people so motivated and others aren’t? Why do some people seem to have “it”—grit, willpower, conscientiousness, whatever you call it—and others don’t? Were they born with it? Did they develop it through training? Does it have to do with them finding and pursuing their “true calling”? Or is there some other explanation? Today’s guest, Jeff Haden, is going to address these questions and more. Jeff has been a popular columnist on Inc.com for years, and he’s spent much of his professional life researching and writing on the topics of success and motivation. In his new book The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win, Jeff argues that motivation doesn’t come from luck or genes, but from something much simpler and more practical: small wins. More specifically, Jeff believes the best way to get and stay motivated is to set goals, and then, more importantly, to create a process that allows you to experience and celebrate regular small wins along the way, and I completely agre

This episode is part of a weekly series that I have dubbed “Motivation Monday.” (Yes, I know, very creative of me. What can I say, I’m a genius…) Seriously though, the idea here is simple: Every Monday morning, I’m going to post a short and punchy episode that I hope gets you fired up to tackle the workouts, work, and everything else that you have planned for the week ahead. As we all know, it’s one thing to know what you want to do, but it’s something else altogether to actually make yourself do it, and I hope that this series gives you a jolt of inspiration, energy, and encouragement to get at it. So, if you like what you hear, then make sure to check back every Monday morning for the latest and greatest installment. Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter! Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

Personal trainer, blogger, and soon-to-become Registered Dietitian Lacey Dunn was kind enough to have me on her podcast to talk about how I got started in the fitness industry, the story behind my books, how I came to start Legion Athletics, and more. This interview is different from my normal routine of drilling deep down into one topic, because Lacey wanted to cover a lot of different topics more related to the hard lessons I’ve learned growing multiple businesses while raising a family, the ins and outs of the supplement industry, and the most important rule I’ve learned about success along the way. I hope you enjoy it. 4:15 - Who are you and what do you do? 5:10 - What are some of the biggest hoops you had to jump through to start your businesses? 29:44 - How was the transition like from writing books to writing your business’ content? 38:35 - How do you balance family, life, and work? 47:30 - What’s your biggest piece of advice for success? 53:55 - Where can people find you and follow your work? Want to