FitnessFAQs Podcast
#67 - You CAN Build Muscle Without Bulking - Geoffrey Verity Schofield
Apr 8, 2025
Geoffrey Verity Schofield, a fitness coach and expert in body composition, passionately defends the benefits of bulking while dissecting the concept of 'main gaining.' He discusses how body fat percentage influences muscle growth and offers insights on navigating nutrition and workouts to maximize gains at maintenance calories. Geoffrey emphasizes the importance of targeted training and personal progress tracking, revealing the psychological trade-offs of pursuing a lean physique and how these factors relate to overall success in fitness and beyond.
32:26
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Main gaining allows advanced lifters to build muscle at maintenance calories while maintaining body composition, despite potentially slower progress.
- Higher body fat percentages can enhance dietary flexibility and training performance, but should be monitored to avoid negative physique changes.
Deep dives
Understanding Main Gaining
Main gaining refers to maintaining the same body composition while consuming maintenance calories or a slight surplus, often aimed at advanced lifters who are satisfied with their physique. This approach allows individuals to potentially enhance their performance, particularly in bodyweight exercises, while preserving their current level of body fat. However, it's important to recognize that progress may be slower than during a traditional bulking phase, and lifters should monitor strength gains and measurements over time to assess their effectiveness. While some argue that main gaining is feasible, personal experiences suggest that sticking to a low body fat percentage can hinder overall progress.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
