Every week on the podcast, Greg Nuckols and Eric Trexler answer listeners’ questions and ask industry experts about anything and everything related to training, nutrition, science, and life in general.
Here, we’ve compiled all of the training questions answered on the podcast so you can quickly jump around and find the content you’re most interested in.
You should also subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you’re getting new episodes and answers to your questions every week.
All training questions
- Programming and Exercise Selection
- Should volume, intensity, and/or frequency of training be titrated based on whether one is cutting or bulking?
- Research Review: Ischemic Preconditioning
- Research Roundup – Strength blocks to enhance hypertrophy
- Research Roundup – Preceding a Hypertrophy Phase with a Strength Phase
- How can we re-sensitize our muscles to hypertrophy?
- Why is deadlifting considered more fatiguing than squatting?
- A Progression Framework for Hypertrophy
- Is flywheel training good for hypertrophy?
- Effects of Horizontal and Incline Bench Press on Neuromuscular Adaptations in Untrained Young Men
- How to progress load throughout a mesocycle
- How should we approach kids/adolescents and resistance training? How young is too young? Are there additional safety concerns?
- Can I spread my training throughout the entire day instead of doing everything within a 60-90 minute “workout” period?
- High-frequency training (with Jeff Nippard)
- What’s the latest on strength and isometrics? Given gym closures and my limited home equipment, I’m thinking of using isometrics to help maintain strength on the squat, bench, and deadlift.
- I have been squatting 2 or 3 times a week for the last year. Is it reasonable to expect to continue progressing while only squatting once a week? How should I structure it to get the most out of it?
- Effect of acute antagonist static stretching on upper-body agonist power
- Are programs limited by our natural tendency to think in weeks? Could it be beneficial to have microcycles that last, for example, 5 days or 9 days?.
- Home-based workouts with no (or minimal) equipment.
- Should long-limbed lifters train differently than lifters with more typical proportions? Does this advice change if the focus is strength versus hypertrophy?
- Is there enough evidence to justify modifying training to include some bench pressing with a particularly long range of motion? For example, adding in some bench pressing with a flatter back arch and narrower grip?
- What is Greg’s stance on the conjugate method for raw lifters? How would he adjust it, if necessary, for a raw lifter?
- Research Roundup – Non-failure training for strength
- When combining unilateral and bilateral training in the same session, is it more advantageous to do unilateral or bilateral first?
- Coach’s Corner – Programming your training during weight loss
- What do you think about Brian Minor’s theory that being able to lift more is a result of hypertrophy, rather than hypertrophy being a result of lifting heavier?
- RPE (rating of perceived exertion) and RIR (repetitions in reserve) have become increasingly popular training concepts in recent years. Is this a double-edged sword? Are people using them in ways you didn’t foresee, or misusing them in ways that you find frustrating? (with Mike Tuchscherer)
- Hot Off the Presses: Effective Reps
- Is there any reason to believe that changing exercises circumvents the diminishing returns observed with completing several sets of the same exercise?
- Are machines better or worse than free weights for hypertrophy?
- We know that bone mineral density improves with weight training. Is there any reason to believe that purposefully improving bone mass could be a way to improve muscle mass and strength? Is it even possible to prioritize bone mass accretion in this manner?
- Do you think most bodybuilders would benefit from adopting certain aspects of powerlifting training? (With Ben Pollack)
- Do you think most powerlifters would benefit from adopting certain aspects of bodybuilding training? (With Ben Pollack)
- As someone who has a foot in both communities, what are things that bodybuilders don’t understand about powerlifting? What are things that powerlifters don’t understand about bodybuilders? (With Ben Pollack)
- How do you generally set up a powerbuilding program? How does it change as short-term focus shifts from one sport to the other? (With Ben Pollack)
- How do you ease into a high volume, hypertrophy-focused mesocycle after a powerlifting meet without losing your strength gains?
- How do you tweak a lifting program to break through plateaus and ensure continued progress?
- What’s your take on accommodating resistance for absolute strength?
- What are the technique requirements in powerlifting versus strongman?
- How do you balance general strength training versus event training in strongman?
- Most powerlifters and bodybuilders think in terms of sets and reps. How do you program for events like carries and holds?
- In a good powerlifting program, how much time or volume should be spent on hypertrophy work, and how should this change based on training experience and in-season versus off-season training?
- I want to look jacked. How do I know if I am strong enough to be messing with bodybuilding-style training and accessory work? Should I just be focused on getting stronger until my main lifts are more competitive?
- How do Greg and Eric approach deloads? What do deloads look like? How often do we do them? Why do we do them?
- Do either of you have any recommendations for someone preparing for their first powerlifting meet?
- I have two powerlifting meets, separated four weeks apart. How do I train to be peaked for both of them?
- What are the best exercises for increasing quadriceps size and strength to help with squatting?
- Which training approach is preferable for strength: daily undulating periodization (DUP) within blocks, or high-frequency Norwegian-style training?
- What do the data say about training frequency for strength development?
- What exercise would you use for mechanical tension/overload for the chest when not doing the bench press?
- Do weighted thrusts help squats much?
- In terms of hypertrophy, how do routines with sets of 20-30 repetitions differ in comparison to a similar volume of sets in the 8-12 rep range?
- Do you have to squat to reach your ultimate deadlift potential?
- What exercises would you base a routine around for non-powerlifters?
- Do you still believe that planks increase hip mobility?
- What is the best resource for someone looking for corrective exercises for their particular faulty movement pattern?
- What is the best way to calculate volume for hypertrophy training?
- How important are warm-ups, and what constitutes an effective warm-up? What are some common misconceptions about warm-ups?
- Is it beneficial to include incline chest exercises in your program?
- How is the concept of functional overreaching applicable in a hypertrophy training block and how often would you advise to use this technique? How would you best reap the benefits of supercompensation following a successful overreaching period?
- What is the most pragmatic and valid way to objectively measure fatigue?
- Is there any benefit of adding electromyostimulation (EMS) to your training for strength or hypertrophy? If so, how should it be used?
- How do I prevent my traps from getting too big?
- Can we train to intentionally change the fiber type of a muscle?
- Which exercises are overrated? Which exercises are underrated?
- For the folks with anterior pelvic tilt, what are some tips for maintaining a neutral pelvis while squatting and deadlifting?
- Greg has previously talked about turning a good hypertrophy program into a good strength program by adding some singles. Practically speaking, how do you implement this strategy?
- Does volume or intensity drive strength gains?
- Is ‘junk volume’ a real thing?
- Is there any carry over or need to develop strength in the 1-5 rep range in order for that strength to be carried over into the 8-12 rep range for hypertrophy promotion?
- When in a caloric deficit, should you reduce training volume, or training intensity?
- How should you train for explosive activities, such as parkour?
- Should you change the way you train as you approach the age of 40 (and beyond)? How and why do performance and recovery change as we age?
- What does the research say about blood flow restriction training?
- What are some different strategies for peaking for a bodybuilding competition?
- How hard is it to transition from raw to equipped powerlifting? How long does it take to learn to use the equipment effectively and refine your technique?
- Which muscle groups are really targeted by the back squat?
- What are a lot of bodybuilders getting wrong these days? (Discussion: Ideal training frequency for bodybuilding)
- Is bodybuilding unhealthy? Should it be encouraged?
- What is the evidence for “effective reps”?
- What lifts do you use for training vs. competition?
- What is the best approach for increasing strength endurance (that is, increasing maximum reps for a given exercise)?
- What is the relationship between training frequency and recoverable volume? Spreading work across more sessions seems as if it would allow more to be done, but is a minimum volume per session necessary to get sufficient stimulus?
- What are the best ways to improve speed using resistance training?
- How important is it for trainees to experiment with different training styles to see what methods may work best for them? How would you recommend organizing an experimental period of training to see if for example you respond better to speed or power training and what should be measured/benchmarked against?
- What things have contributed most to your success in powerlifting/bodybuilding?
- What glaring weaknesses would a typical powerlifter or bodybuilder have if they wanted to transition to strongman?
- General Training Questions
- What are the connections between flexibility and hypertrophy or strength training?
- Does neck strength influence concussion risk?
- Do you think that new lifters might be better off by initially avoiding an “evidence-based” approach to training and nutrition?
- Do “altitude masks” enhance training adaptations?
- Should people generally do minimalist, barbell-only warmups before their workouts? Are more extensive warmups a waste of time and energy?
- Will blood tests for an avid lifter or natural bodybuilder reveal any expected abnormalities?
- Acute effects of cannabis consumption on exercise performance: a systematic and umbrella review
- Does being younger (16-19 years old) affect strength negatively?
- Categorizing lifters as “beginner,” “intermediate,” and beyond.
- Greg reviews several recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews
- If I was born with poor lifting genes, yet continued to perform resistance exercises out of passion, and then give birth to a child who inherited my poor genes, who also performed resistance exercise…how many generations of children would be needed before a noticeable difference in lifting-specific genes was present?
- Do you have any evidence based suggestions for a female who is looking to maintain muscle and gain strength without inducing further hypertrophy?
- What are your thoughts on touch-and-go deadlifts versus resetting every rep?
- What is the best way to achieve/plan for lifting goals going into the new year?
- Coach’s Corner: Changing health-related habits and behaviors
- What is physical culture? (With Ben Pollack)
- Why pursue physical culture as an academic pursuit? Why is it important? (With Ben Pollack)
- What are the roots of physical culture in the West? What are some major physical culture traditions elsewhere that people may not be aware of? (With Ben Pollack)
- How have opinions on strength training changed over time? How has media portrayal of strength training changed over time? (With Ben Pollack)
- “The Other Eric” (Helms) doesn’t appear to lift his chin all the way to the bar when doing pull-ups. For strength and hypertrophy goals, is it important to do so?
- Is completely eschewing the deadlift and all deadlift variations acceptable from a bodybuilding standpoint? If so, can you name a couple of accomplished bodybuilders who have reached their level without incorporating deadlifts into their training? To what extent can I make up for deadlift gains with a bunch of other exercises targeting the posterior chain, forearms, and upper traps?
- I’ve noticed that as my lifts have gotten stronger, my rest periods are becoming longer. What’s the mechanism behind that?
- What does the literature say about rest time between sets for maximizing hypertrophy versus maximizing strength? Is it possible to take too much or little?
- How does chronological age affect potential training status? Do you limit your potential by starting to lift later in life?
- What’s the best and most accurate way to track daily energy expenditure? Are Fitbits the best option?
- I’ve been lifting for many years, but I’m still far from my “genetic potential,” according to an online calculator. Am I advanced or intermediate?
- What are the chronic effects of resistance training on hormone levels?
- Do connective tissues display a delayed response to resistance training? If so, what does Greg know about it?
- When we do resistance exercise, how long does it take for hypertrophy to manifest?
- Do you know how intra-abdominal pressure is measured?
- I’ve read that having a lower body fat percentage is more conducive to building muscle/strength. Is there truth to this, or is the change in body function/hormones negligible between high and low body fat percentage?
- How possible is it that eccentric overload causes preferential hypertrophy of titin, meaning that people who only perform conventional training get a percentage of the available gains? What study designs/tools (blood markers, biopsies) would you use to test? If true, what kind of difference do you feel it would amount to?
- At what point do you see diminished returns when it comes to the health benefits of getting stronger?
- How do your genes, and even just knowing about your genes, affect your performance and physiology?
- Which makes a bigger difference: your actual genes, or your perception of your genetic predisposition? Is direct-to-consumer genetic testing a good idea for determining your athletic potential?
- How variable are responses to resistance training (strength, hypertrophy)?
- How do you find a strongman gym? How can you train for strongman if there’s not a strongman gym nearby? How do you find competitions in your area?
- Coaching
- Coach’s Corner: Sticking Points
- Coach’s Corner
- How do you go about helping athletes find the best technique for themselves? (with Mike Tuchscherer)
- Since you’ve coached so many world-class lifters, what are signs a lifter is nearing their ultimate limits? What do you think ultimately limits progress? (with Mike Tuchscherer)
- How do you help clients that struggle with motivation, emotional decision-making, or taking responsibility for their decisions?
- Can you improve your lifting technique by overexaggerating cues?
- What are some mistakes that coaches make when working with beginners?
- Belts, Shoes, and Lifting Gear
- Research Review: Technologies for measuring bar velocity
- Do mouthguards impact performance?
- Lifting belts
- What is your take on using chains or bands, specifically when the goal is hypertrophy?
- Hot Off The Press (Research Roundup) – Greg’s knee sleeve hypothesis.
- What are the benefits of using weightlifting shoes (with an elevated heel) for squat and leg press?
- Which is better: 10mm or 13mm belt?
- For an advanced lifter, is beltless training useless?
- Sex Differences
- Most research uses men as a sample population. Do you think that the findings apply to women in equal measure?
- How do birth control and menstrual cycle hormones affect periodization? Should I program with that in mind?
- Do men and women experience the same performance effects from caffeine?
- What is the gap between male research and female research in exercise science?
- What are some unique challenges or social pressures that women experience in strength sports?
- What are some steps that people can take to help shift attitudes and help women feel more comfortable in strength sports and other fitness communities?
- What did Greg uncover doing his master’s research on sex differences in fatigue and recovery?
- Concurrent Training and Cardio
- Penalty: Reduction in Gains for Interference (with Mike Zourdos)
- Research Roundup – Adaptations to strength training differ between endurance-trained and untrained women
- Advice for reducing the interference effect for recreational lifters?
- Can your aerobic fitness level hinder your progress in a strength training program?
- What are the best ways to do concurrent training (i.e., combining cardio with resistance training)?
- Muscle Physiology
- Research Roundup – Biological factors that may limit muscle fiber growth
- Research Roundup – Modest Glycogen Depletion May Impact Lifting Performance More Than You Think
- Research Roundup – Muscle Memory
- Research Roundup – Lactate
- The Evidence for Myonuclear Muscle Memory May be Murkier Than Commonly Believed
- When we talk about CNS fatigue, what are we actually talking about mechanistically? Is there anything we can specifically do to improve CNS recovery?
- Applications and limitations of EMG research (with Jeff Nippard)
- Do you need to worry about your muscle fiber type when it comes to power and rate of force development? From a training perspective, what can be done to improve power and rate of force development? (1:10:31).
- Does mouthwash affect blood pressure and muscle pumps by altering nitric oxide production?
- Research Review about factors influencing muscle protein synthesis
- Questions about EMG, stemming from the recent Barbalho study.
- Resistance Exercise-induced Changes in Muscle Phenotype Are Load Dependent.
- Passive muscle tension increases in proportion to intramuscular fluid volume.
- Is anyone looking into how we can increase our overall potential for muscle growth by boosting hyperplasia?
- What is Greg’s take on the current state of the literature regarding the myonuclear domain theory and hypertrophy? Has he updated his position or recommendations since he published his “Grow Like a Newbie” article back in 2015?
- Is it possible to speculate that the diminished return from ‘training too hard’ can partly be explained by the magnitude of muscle protein breakdown exceeding the maximum magnitude of muscle protein synthesis that your body can stimulate in a single training session?
- How do you feel about recent opinion papers suggesting that the change in muscle size over a training career is virtually unrelated to changes in strength? (With Ben Pollack)
- Research Roundup – Phototherapy
- Research Roundup – Muscle Glycogen Replenishment
- Why are satellite cells and myonuclei important for muscle physiology?
- Why do so many studies measure satellite cells instead of myonuclei?
- What is muscle memory?
- To what degree is satellite cell activation predictive of the accumulation of myonuclei? What are the mechanisms that contribute to myonuclear accretion? Are there important physiological roles of satellite cells that do not become activated?
- Why do muscles eventually stop growing?
- What are the implications of the recent news about histone lactylation linking metabolism and gene regulation?
- What are the effects of phototherapy on exercise performance and recovery from exercise?
- Women’s Health
- Does hypothalamic amenorrhea impact hypertrophy? If eating at maintenance (or in a caloric surplus), does hypothalamic amenorrhea still have a negative impact on hypertrophy and athletic performance?
- Pelvic health (incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunction, and more) with Marika Hart and Molly Galbraith
- Unbelievable prevalence statistics related to pelvic health in female athletes (with Marika Hart and Molly Galbraith)
- Lifting and pregnancy: First trimester (with Marika Hart and Molly Galbraith)
- Lifting and pregnancy: Second trimester (with Marika Hart and Molly Galbraith)
- Lifting and pregnancy: Third trimester (with Marika Hart and Molly Galbraith)
- Lifting and pregnancy: After childbirth (with Marika Hart and Molly Galbraith)
- Other “blind spots” that male coaches should know about (with Marika Hart and Molly Galbraith)
Programming and Exercise Selection
Should volume, intensity, and/or frequency of training be titrated based on whether one is cutting or bulking?
Episode 55: BMI, Plant-Based Protein, Stretching, and Mouthguards
Research Review: Ischemic Preconditioning
Episode 54: P-Ratios, Ischemic Preconditioning, and Q&A
Research Roundup – Strength blocks to enhance hypertrophy
Study discussed: Is stronger better? Influence of a strength phase followed by a hypertrophy phase on muscular adaptations in resistance-trained men.
Episode 53: Protein, Fish Oil, Glycogen, and What Limits Muscle Growth
Research Roundup – Preceding a Hypertrophy Phase with a Strength Phase
Article discussed: Is stronger better? Influence of a strength phase followed by a hypertrophy phase on muscular adaptations in resistance-trained men.
Episode 52: Protein, Lactate, and Strength Phases to Boost Hypertrophy
How can we re-sensitize our muscles to hypertrophy?
Episode 50: Q&A: Cortisol, Hydration, Anti-Nutrients, and Deadlift Recovery
Why is deadlifting considered more fatiguing than squatting?
Episode 50: Q&A: Cortisol, Hydration, Anti-Nutrients, and Deadlift Recovery
A Progression Framework for Hypertrophy
- MASS article.
- Papers discussed: One, Two.
Episode 51: 2020’s Most Notable Research (with guests Eric Helms and Mike Zourdos)
Is flywheel training good for hypertrophy?
Episode 48: Breakfast, Glycine, Muscle Knots, and Trigger Points
Effects of Horizontal and Incline Bench Press on Neuromuscular Adaptations in Untrained Young Men
Episode 47 – Bench Angles, Appetitive Traits, and Mesocycle Progression
How to progress load throughout a mesocycle
Episode 47 – Bench Angles, Appetitive Traits, and Mesocycle Progression
How should we approach kids/adolescents and resistance training? How young is too young? Are there additional safety concerns?
Episode 46: Season Finale: Tons of New Meta-Analyses and Q&A Catch-Up
Can I spread my training throughout the entire day instead of doing everything within a 60-90 minute “workout” period?
Episode 46: Season Finale: Tons of New Meta-Analyses and Q&A Catch-Up
High-frequency training (with Jeff Nippard)
Interview with Jeff Nippard: On genetic limits, FFMI, training, and nutrition
What’s the latest on strength and isometrics? Given gym closures and my limited home equipment, I’m thinking of using isometrics to help maintain strength on the squat, bench, and deadlift.
Q&A: Training frequency, reducing caloric intake on rest days, and isometric training
I have been squatting 2 or 3 times a week for the last year. Is it reasonable to expect to continue progressing while only squatting once a week? How should I structure it to get the most out of it?
Q&A: Training frequency, reducing caloric intake on rest days, and isometric training
Effect of acute antagonist static stretching on upper-body agonist power
Episode 37: Heart Rate Variability, Antagonist Stretching, and Chrononutrition
Are programs limited by our natural tendency to think in weeks? Could it be beneficial to have microcycles that last, for example, 5 days or 9 days?.
Episode 37: Heart Rate Variability, Antagonist Stretching, and Chrononutrition
Home-based workouts with no (or minimal) equipment.
Episode 38: Immune Function, Home-Based Workouts, Fat Burners, and Lifting with Long Limbs
Should long-limbed lifters train differently than lifters with more typical proportions? Does this advice change if the focus is strength versus hypertrophy?
Episode 38: Immune Function, Home-Based Workouts, Fat Burners, and Lifting with Long Limbs
Is there enough evidence to justify modifying training to include some bench pressing with a particularly long range of motion? For example, adding in some bench pressing with a flatter back arch and narrower grip?
Episode 38: Immune Function, Home-Based Workouts, Fat Burners, and Lifting with Long Limbs
What is Greg’s stance on the conjugate method for raw lifters? How would he adjust it, if necessary, for a raw lifter?
Episode 36: Antioxidants, Injury Risk Factors, and the Conjugate Method
Research Roundup – Non-failure training for strength
Episode 35: Metabolic Rate, Artificial Sweeteners, Electromyography, and Non-Failure Training
When combining unilateral and bilateral training in the same session, is it more advantageous to do unilateral or bilateral first?
Episode 35: Metabolic Rate, Artificial Sweeteners, Electromyography, and Non-Failure Training
Coach’s Corner – Programming your training during weight loss
Episode 33: Doping, Collagen, Goals, and Hyperplasia
What do you think about Brian Minor’s theory that being able to lift more is a result of hypertrophy, rather than hypertrophy being a result of lifting heavier?
Episode 33: Doping, Collagen, Goals, and Hyperplasia
RPE (rating of perceived exertion) and RIR (repetitions in reserve) have become increasingly popular training concepts in recent years. Is this a double-edged sword? Are people using them in ways you didn’t foresee, or misusing them in ways that you find frustrating? (with Mike Tuchscherer)
Hot Off the Presses: Effective Reps
- Link to study
- Link to Stronger By Science article
- Link to previous discussion on the “effective reps” concept
Is there any reason to believe that changing exercises circumvents the diminishing returns observed with completing several sets of the same exercise?
Study referenced:1
Episode 29: Q&A: High Protein Diets, Hardgainers, Exercise Variety, and Bone Adaptations
Are machines better or worse than free weights for hypertrophy?
Study referenced:1
Episode 29: Q&A: High Protein Diets, Hardgainers, Exercise Variety, and Bone Adaptations
We know that bone mineral density improves with weight training. Is there any reason to believe that purposefully improving bone mass could be a way to improve muscle mass and strength? Is it even possible to prioritize bone mass accretion in this manner?
Study referenced:1
Episode 29: Q&A: High Protein Diets, Hardgainers, Exercise Variety, and Bone Adaptations
Do you think most bodybuilders would benefit from adopting certain aspects of powerlifting training? (With Ben Pollack)
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, & Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
Do you think most powerlifters would benefit from adopting certain aspects of bodybuilding training? (With Ben Pollack)
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, & Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
As someone who has a foot in both communities, what are things that bodybuilders don’t understand about powerlifting? What are things that powerlifters don’t understand about bodybuilders? (With Ben Pollack)
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, & Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
How do you generally set up a powerbuilding program? How does it change as short-term focus shifts from one sport to the other? (With Ben Pollack)
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, & Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
How do you ease into a high volume, hypertrophy-focused mesocycle after a powerlifting meet without losing your strength gains?
Episode 27: Q&A: Bands, Chains, Useful Supplements, and Tweaking Your Program
How do you tweak a lifting program to break through plateaus and ensure continued progress?
Episode 27: Q&A: Bands, Chains, Useful Supplements, and Tweaking Your Program
What’s your take on accommodating resistance for absolute strength?
Episode 27: Q&A: Bands, Chains, Useful Supplements, and Tweaking Your Program
What are the technique requirements in powerlifting versus strongman?
Episode 26: Protein, Fiber, Phototherapy, and Intro to Strongman with James Deffinbaugh
How do you balance general strength training versus event training in strongman?
Episode 26: Protein, Fiber, Phototherapy, and Intro to Strongman with James Deffinbaugh
Most powerlifters and bodybuilders think in terms of sets and reps. How do you program for events like carries and holds?
Episode 26: Protein, Fiber, Phototherapy, and Intro to Strongman with James Deffinbaugh
In a good powerlifting program, how much time or volume should be spent on hypertrophy work, and how should this change based on training experience and in-season versus off-season training?
Episode 25: Q&A: Rest Periods, Deadlifts, Bulking, and Hypertrophy for Powerlifters
I want to look jacked. How do I know if I am strong enough to be messing with bodybuilding-style training and accessory work? Should I just be focused on getting stronger until my main lifts are more competitive?
Episode 25: Q&A: Rest Periods, Deadlifts, Bulking, and Hypertrophy for Powerlifters
How do Greg and Eric approach deloads? What do deloads look like? How often do we do them? Why do we do them?
Episode 22: Red Meat, Deloads, and Pain with Dr. Michael Ray
Do either of you have any recommendations for someone preparing for their first powerlifting meet?
Episode 21: Q&A: BCAAs, Mini-Cuts, Sex Differences, and First Meet Tips
I have two powerlifting meets, separated four weeks apart. How do I train to be peaked for both of them?
Episode 19: Q&A: Fasted Training, Training Frequency, and How Much Research is Enough?
What are the best exercises for increasing quadriceps size and strength to help with squatting?
Episode 21: Q&A: BCAAs, Mini-Cuts, Sex Differences, and First Meet Tips
Which training approach is preferable for strength: daily undulating periodization (DUP) within blocks, or high-frequency Norwegian-style training?
Episode 19: Q&A: Fasted Training, Training Frequency, and How Much Research is Enough?
What do the data say about training frequency for strength development?
Episode 19: Q&A: Fasted Training, Training Frequency, and How Much Research is Enough?
What exercise would you use for mechanical tension/overload for the chest when not doing the bench press?
Episode 19: Q&A: Fasted Training, Training Frequency, and How Much Research is Enough?
Do weighted thrusts help squats much?
Episode 19: Q&A: Fasted Training, Training Frequency, and How Much Research is Enough?
In terms of hypertrophy, how do routines with sets of 20-30 repetitions differ in comparison to a similar volume of sets in the 8-12 rep range?
Episode 17: Q&A: Dreamer Bulks, Concurrent Training, Recovery Modalities, and Valuing Research
Do you have to squat to reach your ultimate deadlift potential?
Episode 15: Q&A: Keto, Rapid Fat Loss, Deadlifts, and Faulty Movement Patterns
What exercises would you base a routine around for non-powerlifters?
Episode 15: Q&A: Keto, Rapid Fat Loss, Deadlifts, and Faulty Movement Patterns
Do you still believe that planks increase hip mobility?
Episode 15: Q&A: Keto, Rapid Fat Loss, Deadlifts, and Faulty Movement Patterns
What is the best resource for someone looking for corrective exercises for their particular faulty movement pattern?
Episode 15: Q&A: Keto, Rapid Fat Loss, Deadlifts, and Faulty Movement Patterns
What is the best way to calculate volume for hypertrophy training?
Episode 13: Q&A: Warming Up, Calculating Volume, Assessing Fatigue, and Creatine Non-Responders
How important are warm-ups, and what constitutes an effective warm-up? What are some common misconceptions about warm-ups?
Episode 13: Q&A: Warming Up, Calculating Volume, Assessing Fatigue, and Creatine Non-Responders
Is it beneficial to include incline chest exercises in your program?
Episode 13: Q&A: Warming Up, Calculating Volume, Assessing Fatigue, and Creatine Non-Responders
How is the concept of functional overreaching applicable in a hypertrophy training block and how often would you advise to use this technique? How would you best reap the benefits of supercompensation following a successful overreaching period?
Episode 13: Q&A: Warming Up, Calculating Volume, Assessing Fatigue, and Creatine Non-Responders
What is the most pragmatic and valid way to objectively measure fatigue?
Episode 13: Q&A: Warming Up, Calculating Volume, Assessing Fatigue, and Creatine Non-Responders
Is there any benefit of adding electromyostimulation (EMS) to your training for strength or hypertrophy? If so, how should it be used?
Episode 11: Q&A: Lifting Shoes, Alcohol, and Over/Underrated Exercises
How do I prevent my traps from getting too big?
Episode 11: Q&A: Lifting Shoes, Alcohol, and Over/Underrated Exercises
Can we train to intentionally change the fiber type of a muscle?
Episode 11: Q&A: Lifting Shoes, Alcohol, and Over/Underrated Exercises
Which exercises are overrated? Which exercises are underrated?
Episode 11: Q&A: Lifting Shoes, Alcohol, and Over/Underrated Exercises
For the folks with anterior pelvic tilt, what are some tips for maintaining a neutral pelvis while squatting and deadlifting?
Greg has previously talked about turning a good hypertrophy program into a good strength program by adding some singles. Practically speaking, how do you implement this strategy?
Does volume or intensity drive strength gains?
Episode 7: Q&A: CBD, Junk Volume, Eccentric Training, and Building a Following in Fitness
Is ‘junk volume’ a real thing?
Episode 7: Q&A: CBD, Junk Volume, Eccentric Training, and Building a Following in Fitness
Is there any carry over or need to develop strength in the 1-5 rep range in order for that strength to be carried over into the 8-12 rep range for hypertrophy promotion?
Meta-analysis of high load vs. low-load training; similar hypertrophy in spite of different strength gains. Also worth noting that the theory behind reverse linear periodization (starting with low volume/high intensity and progressing to high volume/lower intensity) is that early strength gains will help lead to more hypertrophy, but that’s never panned out in the research (one example here).
Episode 5: Q&A: Dropping Weight, Building Strength to Promote Hypertrophy, and Training Around Pain
When in a caloric deficit, should you reduce training volume, or training intensity?
Localized depletion of stored glycogen.
Episode 5: Q&A: Dropping Weight, Building Strength to Promote Hypertrophy, and Training Around Pain
How should you train for explosive activities, such as parkour?
Individualized programming for people with force vs. velocity deficits.
Episode 5: Q&A: Dropping Weight, Building Strength to Promote Hypertrophy, and Training Around Pain
Should you change the way you train as you approach the age of 40 (and beyond)? How and why do performance and recovery change as we age?
Episode 3: Q&A: Beltless Training, Leucine, and the Health Benefits of Strength
What does the research say about blood flow restriction training?
Episode 1: Creatine, Genetics, and Dr. Peter Fitschen
What are some different strategies for peaking for a bodybuilding competition?
Episode 1: Creatine, Genetics, and Dr. Peter Fitschen
How hard is it to transition from raw to equipped powerlifting? How long does it take to learn to use the equipment effectively and refine your technique?
Which muscle groups are really targeted by the back squat?
Episode 8: Drug Testing, New Supplement Research, Squat Science, and Dr. Eric Helms
What are a lot of bodybuilders getting wrong these days? (Discussion: Ideal training frequency for bodybuilding)
Episode 8: Drug Testing, New Supplement Research, Squat Science, and Dr. Eric Helms
Is bodybuilding unhealthy? Should it be encouraged?
Episode 8: Drug Testing, New Supplement Research, Squat Science, and Dr. Eric Helms
What is the evidence for “effective reps”?
Episode 18: Effective Reps, Antioxidants, Optimal Training Volume, and Lauren Colenso-Semple
What lifts do you use for training vs. competition?
Episode 20: Reading Research, the Placebo Diet, Muscle Memory, and Alex Kolliari-Turner
What is the best approach for increasing strength endurance (that is, increasing maximum reps for a given exercise)?
Episode 23: Q&A: Carbs, Sodium, and Experimenting with Your Training
What is the relationship between training frequency and recoverable volume? Spreading work across more sessions seems as if it would allow more to be done, but is a minimum volume per session necessary to get sufficient stimulus?
Episode 23: Q&A: Carbs, Sodium, and Experimenting with Your Training
What are the best ways to improve speed using resistance training?
Episode 23: Q&A: Carbs, Sodium, and Experimenting with Your Training
How important is it for trainees to experiment with different training styles to see what methods may work best for them? How would you recommend organizing an experimental period of training to see if for example you respond better to speed or power training and what should be measured/benchmarked against?
Episode 23: Q&A: Carbs, Sodium, and Experimenting with Your Training
What things have contributed most to your success in powerlifting/bodybuilding?
Episode 5: Q&A: Dropping Weight, Building Strength to Promote Hypertrophy, and Training Around Pain
What glaring weaknesses would a typical powerlifter or bodybuilder have if they wanted to transition to strongman?
Episode 26: Protein, Fiber, Phototherapy, and Intro to Strongman with James Deffinbaugh
General Training Questions
What are the connections between flexibility and hypertrophy or strength training?
Episode 55: BMI, Plant-Based Protein, Stretching, and Mouthguards
Does neck strength influence concussion risk?
Episode 55: BMI, Plant-Based Protein, Stretching, and Mouthguards
Do you think that new lifters might be better off by initially avoiding an “evidence-based” approach to training and nutrition?
Episode 54: P-Ratios, Ischemic Preconditioning, and Q&A
Do “altitude masks” enhance training adaptations?
Episode 50: Q&A: Cortisol, Hydration, Anti-Nutrients, and Deadlift Recovery
Should people generally do minimalist, barbell-only warmups before their workouts? Are more extensive warmups a waste of time and energy?
Episode 50: Q&A: Cortisol, Hydration, Anti-Nutrients, and Deadlift Recovery
Will blood tests for an avid lifter or natural bodybuilder reveal any expected abnormalities?
Episode 50: Q&A: Cortisol, Hydration, Anti-Nutrients, and Deadlift Recovery
Acute effects of cannabis consumption on exercise performance: a systematic and umbrella review
Episode 47 – Bench Angles, Appetitive Traits, and Mesocycle Progression
Does being younger (16-19 years old) affect strength negatively?
Episode 46: Season Finale: Tons of New Meta-Analyses and Q&A Catch-Up
Categorizing lifters as “beginner,” “intermediate,” and beyond.
Episode 46: Season Finale: Tons of New Meta-Analyses and Q&A Catch-Up
Greg reviews several recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews
- The effect of exercise interventions on resting metabolic rate: A systematic review and meta-analysis. MacKenzie-Shalders et al. (2020).
- The Placebo and Nocebo effect on sports performance: A systematic review. Hurst et al. (2019).
- A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Foam Rolling on Performance and Recovery. Wiewelhove et al. (2019).
- Acute Effects of Foam Rolling on Range of Motion in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review with Multilevel Meta-analysis. Wilke et al. (2019).
- Is tDCS an Adjunct Ergogenic Resource for Improving Muscular Strength and Endurance Performance? A Systematic Review. Machado et al. (2019).
Episode 46: Season Finale: Tons of New Meta-Analyses and Q&A Catch-Up
If I was born with poor lifting genes, yet continued to perform resistance exercises out of passion, and then give birth to a child who inherited my poor genes, who also performed resistance exercise…how many generations of children would be needed before a noticeable difference in lifting-specific genes was present?
Episode 35: Metabolic Rate, Artificial Sweeteners, Electromyography, and Non-Failure Training
Do you have any evidence based suggestions for a female who is looking to maintain muscle and gain strength without inducing further hypertrophy?
Episode 34: Cell Swelling, Genetic Ceilings, Touch-and-Go Deadlifts, and Load-Specific Adaptations
What are your thoughts on touch-and-go deadlifts versus resetting every rep?
Episode 34: Cell Swelling, Genetic Ceilings, Touch-and-Go Deadlifts, and Load-Specific Adaptations
What is the best way to achieve/plan for lifting goals going into the new year?
Episode 33: Doping, Collagen, Goals, and Hyperplasia
What is physical culture? (With Ben Pollack)
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, & Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
Why pursue physical culture as an academic pursuit? Why is it important? (With Ben Pollack)
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, & Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
What are the roots of physical culture in the West? What are some major physical culture traditions elsewhere that people may not be aware of? (With Ben Pollack)
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, & Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
How have opinions on strength training changed over time? How has media portrayal of strength training changed over time? (With Ben Pollack)
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, & Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
“The Other Eric” (Helms) doesn’t appear to lift his chin all the way to the bar when doing pull-ups. For strength and hypertrophy goals, is it important to do so?
Episode 27: Q&A: Bands, Chains, Useful Supplements, and Tweaking Your Program
Is completely eschewing the deadlift and all deadlift variations acceptable from a bodybuilding standpoint? If so, can you name a couple of accomplished bodybuilders who have reached their level without incorporating deadlifts into their training? To what extent can I make up for deadlift gains with a bunch of other exercises targeting the posterior chain, forearms, and upper traps?
Episode 25: Q&A: Rest Periods, Deadlifts, Bulking, and Hypertrophy for Powerlifters
I’ve noticed that as my lifts have gotten stronger, my rest periods are becoming longer. What’s the mechanism behind that?
Episode 25: Q&A: Rest Periods, Deadlifts, Bulking, and Hypertrophy for Powerlifters
What does the literature say about rest time between sets for maximizing hypertrophy versus maximizing strength? Is it possible to take too much or little?
Episode 25: Q&A: Rest Periods, Deadlifts, Bulking, and Hypertrophy for Powerlifters
How does chronological age affect potential training status? Do you limit your potential by starting to lift later in life?
Episode 21: Q&A: BCAAs, Mini-Cuts, Sex Differences, and First Meet Tips
What’s the best and most accurate way to track daily energy expenditure? Are Fitbits the best option?
Episode 15: Q&A: Keto, Rapid Fat Loss, Deadlifts, and Faulty Movement Patterns
I’ve been lifting for many years, but I’m still far from my “genetic potential,” according to an online calculator. Am I advanced or intermediate?
Episode 11: Q&A: Lifting Shoes, Alcohol, and Over/Underrated Exercises
What are the chronic effects of resistance training on hormone levels?
Episode 11: Q&A: Lifting Shoes, Alcohol, and Over/Underrated Exercises
Do connective tissues display a delayed response to resistance training? If so, what does Greg know about it?
When we do resistance exercise, how long does it take for hypertrophy to manifest?
Do you know how intra-abdominal pressure is measured?
I’ve read that having a lower body fat percentage is more conducive to building muscle/strength. Is there truth to this, or is the change in body function/hormones negligible between high and low body fat percentage?
Episode 7: Q&A: CBD, Junk Volume, Eccentric Training, and Building a Following in Fitness
How possible is it that eccentric overload causes preferential hypertrophy of titin, meaning that people who only perform conventional training get a percentage of the available gains? What study designs/tools (blood markers, biopsies) would you use to test? If true, what kind of difference do you feel it would amount to?
Episode 7: Q&A: CBD, Junk Volume, Eccentric Training, and Building a Following in Fitness
At what point do you see diminished returns when it comes to the health benefits of getting stronger?
Episode 3: Q&A: Beltless Training, Leucine, and the Health Benefits of Strength
How do your genes, and even just knowing about your genes, affect your performance and physiology?
Episode 1: Creatine, Genetics, and Dr. Peter Fitschen
Which makes a bigger difference: your actual genes, or your perception of your genetic predisposition? Is direct-to-consumer genetic testing a good idea for determining your athletic potential?
Episode 1: Creatine, Genetics, and Dr. Peter Fitschen
How variable are responses to resistance training (strength, hypertrophy)?
Episode 14: Sleep, Response Heterogeneity, and Dr. Brandon Roberts
How do you find a strongman gym? How can you train for strongman if there’s not a strongman gym nearby? How do you find competitions in your area?
Episode 26: Protein, Fiber, Phototherapy, and Intro to Strongman with James Deffinbaugh
Coaching
Coach’s Corner: Sticking Points
Episode 56: Testosterone Boosters, Sticking Points, and Bar Velocity Technology
Coach’s Corner
Episode 55: BMI, Plant-Based Protein, Stretching, and Mouthguards
How do you go about helping athletes find the best technique for themselves? (with Mike Tuchscherer)
Since you’ve coached so many world-class lifters, what are signs a lifter is nearing their ultimate limits? What do you think ultimately limits progress? (with Mike Tuchscherer)
How do you help clients that struggle with motivation, emotional decision-making, or taking responsibility for their decisions?
Can you improve your lifting technique by overexaggerating cues?
Episode 10: Coaching Cues, Fat-Free Mass Index, Non-Responders, and Dr. Brad Dieter
What are some mistakes that coaches make when working with beginners?
Episode 12: Bench Press, Intermittent Fasting, Body Composition Testing, and Dr. Grant Tinsley
Belts, Shoes, and Lifting Gear
Research Review: Technologies for measuring bar velocity
Episode 56: Testosterone Boosters, Sticking Points, and Bar Velocity Technology
Do mouthguards impact performance?
Relevant studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Episode 55: BMI, Plant-Based Protein, Stretching, and Mouthguards
Lifting belts
Episode 46: Season Finale: Tons of New Meta-Analyses and Q&A Catch-Up
What is your take on using chains or bands, specifically when the goal is hypertrophy?
Episode 31: Q&A: Myonuclei, Sodium Bicarbonate, Bands For Hypertrophy, and More Game Changers
Hot Off The Press (Research Roundup) – Greg’s knee sleeve hypothesis.
Episode 30: Fructose, Knee Sleeves, Weight Loss Variability, and James Krieger
What are the benefits of using weightlifting shoes (with an elevated heel) for squat and leg press?
Episode 11: Q&A: Lifting Shoes, Alcohol, and Over/Underrated Exercises
Which is better: 10mm or 13mm belt?
For an advanced lifter, is beltless training useless?
Episode 3: Q&A: Beltless Training, Leucine, and the Health Benefits of Strength
Sex Differences
Most research uses men as a sample population. Do you think that the findings apply to women in equal measure?
Episode 21: Q&A: BCAAs, Mini-Cuts, Sex Differences, and First Meet Tips
How do birth control and menstrual cycle hormones affect periodization? Should I program with that in mind?
Do men and women experience the same performance effects from caffeine?
What is the gap between male research and female research in exercise science?
What are some steps that people can take to help shift attitudes and help women feel more comfortable in strength sports and other fitness communities?
What did Greg uncover doing his master’s research on sex differences in fatigue and recovery?
Episode 2: Sex Differences in Fatigue and Recovery, and Dr. Jason Cholewa
Concurrent Training and Cardio
Penalty: Reduction in Gains for Interference (with Mike Zourdos)
Episode 51: 2020’s Most Notable Research (with guests Eric Helms and Mike Zourdos)
Research Roundup – Adaptations to strength training differ between endurance-trained and untrained women
Episode 44: Caffeine Genes, Brown Adipose Tissue, Concurrent Training, and Hangovers
Advice for reducing the interference effect for recreational lifters?
Episode 37: Heart Rate Variability, Antagonist Stretching, and Chrononutrition
Can your aerobic fitness level hinder your progress in a strength training program?
Episode 31: Q&A: Myonuclei, Sodium Bicarbonate, Bands For Hypertrophy, and More Game Changers
What are the best ways to do concurrent training (i.e., combining cardio with resistance training)?
Study discussed: 1
Episode 17: Q&A: Dreamer Bulks, Concurrent Training, Recovery Modalities, and Valuing Research
Muscle Physiology
Research Roundup – Biological factors that may limit muscle fiber growth
- Studies discussed: Myonuclear content regulates cell size with similar scaling properties in mice and humans.
- Nuclear numbers in syncytial muscle fibers promote size but limit the development of larger myonuclear domains.
Episode 53: Protein, Fish Oil, Glycogen, and What Limits Muscle Growth
Research Roundup – Modest Glycogen Depletion May Impact Lifting Performance More Than You Think
Episode 53: Protein, Fish Oil, Glycogen, and What Limits Muscle Growth
Research Roundup – Muscle Memory
Episode 52: Protein, Lactate, and Strength Phases to Boost Hypertrophy
Research Roundup – Lactate
- Articles discussed: The emerging role of lactate as a mediator of exercise-induced appetite suppression.
- Resistance to exercise-induced weight loss: compensatory behavioral adaptations.
- Potential involvement of lactate and interleukin-6 in the appetite-regulatory hormonal response to an acute exercise bout.
- Lactate as a Signaling Molecule That Regulates Exercise-Induced Adaptations.
Episode 52: Protein, Lactate, and Strength Phases to Boost Hypertrophy
The Evidence for Myonuclear Muscle Memory May be Murkier Than Commonly Believed
- Read this article for free on Stronger by Science.
- MASS article.
- Papers discussed: One, Two.
Episode 51: 2020’s Most Notable Research (with guests Eric Helms and Mike Zourdos)
When we talk about CNS fatigue, what are we actually talking about mechanistically? Is there anything we can specifically do to improve CNS recovery?
Episode 49: Protein & Kidney Function; Cholesterol & Training Adaptations
Applications and limitations of EMG research (with Jeff Nippard)
Interview with Jeff Nippard: On genetic limits, FFMI, training, and nutrition
Do you need to worry about your muscle fiber type when it comes to power and rate of force development? From a training perspective, what can be done to improve power and rate of force development? (1:10:31).
Episode 37: Heart Rate Variability, Antagonist Stretching, and Chrononutrition
Does mouthwash affect blood pressure and muscle pumps by altering nitric oxide production?
Episode 36: Antioxidants, Injury Risk Factors, and the Conjugate Method
Research Review about factors influencing muscle protein synthesis
Episode 36: Antioxidants, Injury Risk Factors, and the Conjugate Method
Questions about EMG, stemming from the recent Barbalho study.
Episode 35: Metabolic Rate, Artificial Sweeteners, Electromyography, and Non-Failure Training
Resistance Exercise-induced Changes in Muscle Phenotype Are Load Dependent.
Episode 34: Cell Swelling, Genetic Ceilings, Touch-and-Go Deadlifts, and Load-Specific Adaptations
Passive muscle tension increases in proportion to intramuscular fluid volume.
Episode 34: Cell Swelling, Genetic Ceilings, Touch-and-Go Deadlifts, and Load-Specific Adaptations
Is anyone looking into how we can increase our overall potential for muscle growth by boosting hyperplasia?
Episode 33: Doping, Collagen, Goals, and Hyperplasia
What is Greg’s take on the current state of the literature regarding the myonuclear domain theory and hypertrophy? Has he updated his position or recommendations since he published his “Grow Like a Newbie” article back in 2015?
Episode 31: Q&A: Myonuclei, Sodium Bicarbonate, Bands For Hypertrophy, and More Game Changers
Is it possible to speculate that the diminished return from ‘training too hard’ can partly be explained by the magnitude of muscle protein breakdown exceeding the maximum magnitude of muscle protein synthesis that your body can stimulate in a single training session?
Episode 29: Q&A: High Protein Diets, Hardgainers, Exercise Variety, and Bone Adaptations
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, and Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
Research Roundup – Phototherapy
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, and Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
Research Roundup – Muscle Glycogen Replenishment
Episode 28: Glycogen Loading, Lower Back Pain, PowerBuilding, and Physical Culture with Ben Pollack
Why are satellite cells and myonuclei important for muscle physiology?
Episode 20: Reading Research, the Placebo Diet, Muscle Memory, and Alex Kolliari-Turner
Why do so many studies measure satellite cells instead of myonuclei?
Episode 20: Reading Research, the Placebo Diet, Muscle Memory, and Alex Kolliari-Turner
What is muscle memory?
Episode 20: Reading Research, the Placebo Diet, Muscle Memory, and Alex Kolliari-Turner
To what degree is satellite cell activation predictive of the accumulation of myonuclei? What are the mechanisms that contribute to myonuclear accretion? Are there important physiological roles of satellite cells that do not become activated?
Episode 20: Reading Research, the Placebo Diet, Muscle Memory, and Alex Kolliari-Turner
Why do muscles eventually stop growing?
Episode 20: Reading Research, the Placebo Diet, Muscle Memory, and Alex Kolliari-Turner
What are the implications of the recent news about histone lactylation linking metabolism and gene regulation?
Episode 26: Protein, Fiber, Phototherapy, and Intro to Strongman with James Deffinbaugh
What are the effects of phototherapy on exercise performance and recovery from exercise?
Episode 26: Protein, Fiber, Phototherapy, and Intro to Strongman with James Deffinbaugh
Women’s Health
Does hypothalamic amenorrhea impact hypertrophy? If eating at maintenance (or in a caloric surplus), does hypothalamic amenorrhea still have a negative impact on hypertrophy and athletic performance?
Episode 46: Season Finale: Tons of New Meta-Analyses and Q&A Catch-Up