Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews

Reading great health and fitness books is one of the most effective ways to learn how to build your best body ever and a body you can proud of. There are many fitness books out there, but we only have so much time and energy to give to reading. We want to make sure we pick the ones that will have the highest return on our investment. So which books should you read? In this podcast, I’m going to share the nine best fitness books of all time (as of February 2022, at least). So if you’re interested in getting at least a little bit better at losing fat, getting stronger, performing better, or getting healthier, this episode is for you. I’m going to share the books that have helped me do those things and that can help you as well. Timestamps: 0:00 - Our (new and improved) protein bars are back! Try them risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/bar and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points 4:24 - Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe 8:52 - Bigger Leaner Stronger by Mike Mathews 14:29 - Thinner Leaner Stronger by Mike Mathews 15:56 - A Guide To Flexible Dieting by Lyle McDonald 18:40 - Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success 21:32 - Muscle For Life by Mike Matthews 23:51 - Triathletes Training Bible by Joe Friel 26:33 - 5/3/1 by Jim Wendler 31:26 - Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavier 31:23 - All About Powerlifting by Tim Henriques Mentioned on the Show: Our (new and improved) protein bars are back! Try them risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/bar and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points

I’ve written and recorded a lot of evidence-based content over the years on just about everything you can imagine related to building muscle, losing fat, and getting healthy. I’ve also worked with thousands of men and women of all ages and circumstances and helped them get into the best shape of their lives. That doesn’t mean you should blindly swallow everything I say, though, because let’s face it—nobody is always right about everything. And especially in fields like diet and exercise, which are constantly evolving thanks to the efforts of honest and hardworking researchers and thought leaders. This is why I’m always happy to hear from people who disagree with me, especially when they have good arguments and evidence to back up their assertions. Sometimes I can’t get on board with their positions, but sometimes I end up learning something, and either way, I always appreciate the discussion. That gave me the idea for this series of podcast episodes: publicly addressing things people disagree with me on and sharing my perspective. Think of it like a spicier version of a Q&A. So, here’s what I’m doing: Every couple of weeks, I’m asking my Instagram followers what they disagree with me on, and then picking the more common or interesting contentions to address here on the podcast. And in this episode, I’ll be tackling the following . . . Your supplement contains “natural flavors,” but I heard that ingredient can be used to hide many very unnatural and unhealthy chemicals. Timestamps: 0:00 - Buy One Get One 50% off on Pulse Fruit Punch and Blue Raspberry! Go to buylegion.com/pulse and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% on your first order or get double reward points on your order. 4:09 - What is the definition of a natural flavor according to the FDA? 5:08 - What is the definition of an artificial flavor according to the FDA? 5:42 - Are natural flavors used to hide unnatural and unhealthy chemicals? Mentioned on the Show: Buy One Get One 50% off on Pulse Fruit Punch and Blue Raspberry! Go to buylegion.com/pulse and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% on your first order or get double reward points on your order.

In this podcast, I have a conversation with my friend David Nurse all about realizing your potential, achieving more than you thought was possible, and creating breakthroughs. This is something David knows about because he recently released a book called “Breakthrough,” which provides an actionable blueprint to increase your innovation and creativity on demand. David took what he learned about the habits and routines of the most successful NBA players and coaches to develop a framework for creating more breakthroughs in your life. In case you’re not familiar with David, not only is he a former pro basketball player life optimization coach, and a repeat guest on my podcast, but he’s a bestselling author, and acclaimed speaker, recently named by Real Leaders as a Top 50 keynote speaker (and he’s the youngest speaker int he list to boot). In this interview, we discuss . . . What breakthroughs are and the framework you can use to have them more frequently The value of competition Developing self-confidence The fear of failure How to break through limits and realize “potential” The self-made, lone-genius myth How to make personal connections and build a network And more . . . So, if you want to learn what “breakthroughs” are and how you can foster having more of them in your life, definitely check out this podcast! Timestamps: 0:00 - Buy One Get One 50% off on Pulse Fruit Punch and Blue Raspberry! Go to buylegion.com/pulse and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% on your first order or get double reward points on your order. 4:53 - Why did you write this book 5:08 - What does a “breakthrough” mean? 18:48 - What do you mean by, “making completion your idol?” 22:04 - What are your thoughts on building self-confidence? 27:29 - What about fear of failure? 31:38 - How do you balance an “I don’t care what people think” mentality while still wanting feedback and challenges? 46:51 - What are your thoughts on being self-made? 1:01:01 - Where can people find you and your work? Mentioned on the Show: Buy One Get One 50% off on Pulse Fruit Punch and Blue Raspberry! Go to buylegion.com/pulse and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% on your first order or get double reward points on your order. David Nurse’s Website: davidnurse.com

This episode is part of a 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: 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 for the latest and greatest installment. Timestamps: 0:00 - Try our new and improved protein bar! Go to https://buylegion.com/bar and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points! 3:30 - Please leave a review and subscribe to the podcast! Mentioned on the Show: Try our new and improved protein bar! Go to https://buylegion.com/bar and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points!

This podcast is a Q&A, but it’s a bit different from the kind you’ll typically find here on Muscle For Life.In my usual Q&A episodes, I take a question from email or Instagram and then fully answer it in an episode of the podcast every week.However, over onInstagram, I’ve started doing weekly Q&As in the stories, and it occurred to me that many podcast listeners might enjoy hearing these questions and my short answers. So, instead of talking about one thing in an episode, I’m going to cover a variety of questions. And keep in mind some of these questions are just for fun. :)So if you want to ask me questions in my Instagram stories,follow me on Instagram (@muscleforlifefitness), and if I answer your question there, it might just make it onto an episode of the podcast!If you like this type of episode, let me know. Send me an email (mike@muscleforlife.com) or direct message me on Instagram. And if you don’t like it, let me know that too or how you think it could be better.Timestamps0:00 - Try Pulse Blood Orange today! Go to https://buylegion.com/pulse and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points!3:39 - Does microwaving have a negative effect on food?4:44 - Are you worried about Omicron?5:25 - Am I wrong for preferring 90 Degree squats over ass to grass?6:32 - What are your thoughts on Bitcoin?9:12 - What do you think about activity trackers like Apple Watch and Whoop?14:47 - Any thoughts on the Liver King?15:52 - Why did you do the dumbbell press before incline barbell press?16:52 - How do you handle losing friends due to different views about the vaccine?18:46 - If you have one piece of advice for a husband and wife about to start BLS and TLS,  what would it be?19:07 - As the POTUS, your first task is to reduce obesity to 10% of the US population. How would you do it?19:55 - Why don’t you build a massive home gym?20:22 - How should I schedule training with sleep deprivation and a toddler?22:20 - Any concerns with low testosterone during a cut phase?23:36 - What do you think of Smolov training?23:50 - Is Glutamine better pre or post-workout, or both?24:43 - What are the most underrated exercises?24:55 - Would you ever run for a political office?Mentioned on the Show:New Pulse flavor Blood Orange is out now! Try Pulse risk-free today! Go to https://buylegion.com/pulse and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points!

If you listen to this podcast, you probably have some idea what macronutrients are, as well as micronutrients, like vitamin C or B12. What you may not know is plant foods contain even smaller organic compounds called phytonutrients. What are phytonutrients and why do they matter? Can you still thrive without eating them? What are the benefits of including more of them in your diet and which ones should you focus on? In this podcast interview, Dr. Dan Gubler answers those questions and a lot more. He gives a primer on phytonutrients, explains why you should care about them, and gives practical tips for incorporating more of the most important ones into your diet. If you’re not familiar with Dan, he’s a phytonutrient chemist and researcher whose work has been recognized with the DSA Visionary Award, the Schering-Plough Science and Innovation Award, the American Cancer Society Fellowship, the Eli Lilly Fellowship, and the Best Educator Award from Brigham Young University–Hawaii. He’s also the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Brilliant, a supplement company that focuses on formulating products with bioactive plant compounds that can proactively help human health. In this interview, we discuss . . . What phytonutrients are and how they benefit our health Supplementation of phytonutrients versus getting them from food The relevance of phytonutrients to carnivore diet followers and plant-avoiders His favorite phytonutrient-rich foods The importance of standardization in supplements And more . . . So, if you want to learn what the research says about phytonutrients and what role these plant molecules play in our health, listen to this podcast! Timestamps: 0:00 - New Pulse flavor Blood Orange is out now! Try Pulse risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/pulse and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points 4:58 - What is a phytonutrient? 5:17 - How much does supplementation matter 10:06 - Cannabinoids 10:40 - Phytonutrients in food versus supplements 11:43 - Benzoxazinoids 15:25 - What benefits are clearly supported by the research and what is speculative? 18:59 - What does this mean for followers of the carnivore diet? 22:25 - Why you can't just supplement instead of eating fruits and vegetables 25:50 - Favorite phytonutrient-rich foods 29:46 - What is the proper dose of saffron? 30:43 - What phytonutrients are worth supplementing? 33:13 - The importance of standardization 37:40 - Rhodiola 38:36 - The future of phytonutrients 40:16 - How would you apply the 80/20 principle to phytonutrient intake? 44:13 - How to get foods that have sufficient nutrition 48:04 - What are the phytonutrient building blocks of a nutritious diet? 50:53 - Chloraphyl supplements 56:49 - Spices 59:20 - Where can people find you and your work? Mentioned on the Show: New Pulse flavor Blood Orange is out now! Try Pulse risk-free today! Go to https://buylegion.com/pulse and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points! Dan Gubler’s Website: https://feelbrilliant.com/ Dr. Dan’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/discover-with-dr-dan-proactive-health/id1547289874 Dr. Dan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdangubler/?hl=en Dr. Dan’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drdangubler

This episode is part of a 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: 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 for the latest and greatest installment. Timestamps: 0:00 - Shop Legion Supplements Here: https://buylegion.com/ and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points 2:50 - Please leave a review and subscribe to the podcast! Mentioned on the Show: Shop Legion Supplements Here: https://buylegion.com/ and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points!

This podcast is a Q&A, but it’s a bit different from the kind you’ll typically find here on Muscle For Life.In my usual Q&A episodes, I take a question from email or Instagram and then fully answer it in an episode of the podcast every week.However, over onInstagram, I’ve started doing weekly Q&As in the stories, and it occurred to me that many podcast listeners might enjoy hearing these questions and my short answers. So, instead of talking about one thing in an episode, I’m going to cover a variety of questions. And keep in mind some of these questions are just for fun. :)So if you want to ask me questions in my Instagram stories,follow me on Instagram (@muscleforlifefitness), and if I answer your question there, it might just make it onto an episode of the podcast!If you like this type of episode, let me know. Send me an email (mike@muscleforlife.com) or direct message me on Instagram. And if you don’t like it, let me know that too or how you think it could be better.Timestamps0:00 - Try Whey+ risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/whey and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points4:31 - Do you ever train at 6am?6:49 - Where do you go for your daily news?7:17 - Is it okay to consume 120 grams of whey protein and eat other whole foods to reach a total of 200 grams of protein per day?10:00 - Where can I find friends that don’t completely support the vaccine narrative?10:25 - How can you make your penis bigger?10:35 - Does creatine cause or promote hair loss?14:23 - What is the best advice you would give your younger self?16:13 - Is COVID a conspiracy?17:12 - What are your thoughts on Dr. John Jaquish’s X3 bar system?19:17 - My joints aren’t great due to a previous accident and cortisone injections. What are some tips to train this way?21:36 - BCAAS or EAAS?22:34 - Generally speaking, what is the upper limit of protein you can digest per meal?22:55 - When following the BLS program, how many “newbie” gains are lost during a deficit as opposed to a surplus?23:33 - Which Legion protein is better for lactose intolerant people?24:30 - When lean bulking, should you go to maintenance calories on rest days?25:49 - What percentage of bodyweight should you look to gain per week on your first bulk?26:27 - When do you think this COVID madness will be over?Mentioned on the Show:Try Whey+ risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/whey and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points

If you’ve ever wondered if you're making the most of your workouts, this podcast is for you. That’s because I’m chatting with Chris Barakat all about training quality versus quantity. There’s been a lot of discussion in the fitness space over the past few years about the relationship between volume and muscle growth. The more volume you do, the better your results, many people claim. Is that completely true, though? Are all sets and reps created equal? Or are there ways to maximize your results without adding more sets to your workout? Those are questions Chris Barakat is answering in this podcast. We discuss . . . The concept of volume quality and why more isn’t always better Rep effectiveness versus “junk” volume Specific signs your reps are high-quality How to “feel” your chest during the bench press And more . . . If you’re not familiar with Chris, he’s a published scientist, educator, coach, and natural bodybuilder, and he’s a repeat guest on the podcast for good reason. His years of developing his book smarts along with his practical knowledge of gym know-how means he knows how to get results while also having something interesting to say, and I always learn something new in our chats. So, if you want to learn what the latest research says about training volume and how you can evaluate and tweak your own training quality to get better results, listen to this podcast! Timestamps: 0:00 - Try Recharge risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/recharge and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points 5:34 - What research are you currently involved in? 10:42 - What did your peak week protocol look like? 13:18 - Volume quantity. Is more volume always better? What's the state of the research? 20:34 - Rep quality versus junk volume 22:18 - What are the signs you're recruiting your muscles well? 26:27 - Reducing junk volume 33:06 - Intentionality, psychology, and training intensity 38:44 - Paying attention to bar speed 44:12 - Other signs of good rep quality 45:54 - How do you "feel" bench press in your chest 48:55 - What's worked for you for quad growth? 53:45 - Have you experienced poor back squat performance when you don't train it despite increased quad growth? 58:14 - Dumbbell bench press vs barbell bench press 1:00:44 - How do you evaluate whether you should increase volume or pay more attention to your volume quality? 1:03:59 - What sort of novel stimulus can you add? 1:04:56 - What exercises load your muscles in a stretched position? 1:06:02 - Dumbbell pullover 1:13:57 - How will your growth volume be different from your muscle retention strategy during show prep? 1:15:18 - Where can people find your work? Mentioned on the Show: Try Recharge risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/recharge and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points Chris Barakat’s Website: https://schoolofgainz.com/ Chris Barakat’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher.barakat/

This episode is about the speed of your metabolism. Many people have reached out to me over the years who were struggling to lose weight and who thought this was due to a “slow” metabolism. Often the solutions offered involve taking special pills, following very restrictive diets, and pushing through punishing workouts. And when those strategies don’t work, these same people start believing it’s impossible to lose weight or keep it off. Others have complained to me that their metabolisms are so “fast” that they can’t gain weight effectively—the so-called hard-gainer. In this podcast, we’re going to talk about both of those scenarios. The good news is while some people do tend to burn more calories than others, no one’s metabolism is so “slow” or “fast” that they can’t improve their body composition or maintain the body they really want. So, listen to this episode to learn why! Timestamps: 0:00 - Try Phoenix risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/phoenix and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points! 4:56 - What is your metabolism? 7:27 - How do I measure my metabolism? 10:47 - Why is my metabolism slow? 19:20 - Do I have a fast metabolism? 25:50 - Can I increase my metabolic rate? 26:35 - How can I increase my metabolic rate right away? Mentioned on the Show: Try Phoenix risk-free today! Go to buylegion.com/phoenix and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points!