Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews

This podcast is all about alpha-GPC, which is one of my favorite supplements. That’s why you can kind it in my pre-workout Pulse and my nootropic Ascend. Alpha-GPC has promise as both a performance enhancer and a cognitive booster and preserver. It’s also well-tolerated with very few side effects, which is not something that can be said about a lot of other nootropic supplements. So, should you try alpha-GPC? Will it help you push a little bit harder in the gym without the side effects associated with stimulants? Find out in this podcast. Timestamps: 5:27 - What is Alpha-GPC? 8:36 - What are the power and strength benefits with supplementing with Aplha-GPC? 11:57 - What are the cognitive benefits with supplementing with Alpha-GPC? 14:23 - What are the growth hormone benefits with supplementing with Aplha-GPC? Mentioned on the Show: Shop Legion Supplements Here: https://buylegion.com/mike Want free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

I got a lot of great feedback on my previous podcast about weightlifting cues. In that episode, I covered my favorite cues for the squat, deadlift, and bench press. So, I thought I would do another episode covering the best cues for the front squat, overhead press, pull-up, chin-up, and the barbell row, which are some of my favorite exercises besides the “big three.” So, if you want to learn what weightlifting cues are, as well as my favorite cues for better form and performing better in the gym, listen to this episode! Timestamps: 2:19 - What is a cue? 8:17 - Front squat cues 11:24 - Overhead press cues 15:34 - Pull up and chin up cues 18:55 - barbell row and dumbbell row cues Mentioned on the Show: Books by Mike Matthews: https://legionathletics.com/products/books/ Want free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

In this podcast, I interview Brooke Ence, an entrepreneur, actress, and CrossFit icon, which she became after winning 1st place in the California Regional at the 2015 CrossFit Games (her first year competing, by the way). She looks the part too, which is how she’s garnered over 1.5 million followers on Instagram, and landed roles as an Amazon warrior in Wonder Woman, Justice League, and Black Lightning. Reaching this level of performance and maintaining the look isn't easy, of course, and in this episode, we chat about Brooke’s story and how she ended up here. Specifically, we talk about . . . Her history in sports and athletics How she got involved in CrossFit and what it was like training (alone) for the CrossFit Games The data and mindset required to perform at your peak Why you have to do more than just "show up" Genetics and natural talent versus drive Social media and vlogging And more . . . So if you want to learn how Brooke became the “superhero” she is today, check out this podcast and let me know what you think! Timestamps: 6:09 - What has your journey been? How did you get into this? 25:35 - What kind of headspace do you go into when things are not going your way? Mentioned on the Show: Brooke Ence’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookeence/ Brooke Ence’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiT4lJYXVC5Ev8Mlp8o7-Zg Brooke Ence’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-the-reps-with-brooke-ence-jeanna-cianciarulo/id1438658181 Encewear: https://encewear.com/ Naked Training App: https://www.nakedtraining.app/ Books by Mike Matthews: https://legionathletics.com/products/books/ Want free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

Today we’re talking about DHEA supplements. This is a popular supplement because DHEA can influence your hormones.Many people believe if you can enhance your hormones, you can look better, perform better, feel better, and more. That’s true because healthy living can help optimize your hormones, which has beneficial downstream effects.You can also affect your hormonal profile through medications, synthetic hormones, and supplements, but most of the stuff that actually works is only available through a prescription.As far as supplements go, most “testosterone boosters” are junk. However, DHEA can raise your testosterone in certain conditions, which is what I’m going to talk about in this podcast.Timestamps:7:00 - What is DHEA?10:29 - What are the benefits of DHEA?15:16 - What are the side effects of DHEA?16:23 - What is the effective dose of DHEA?Mentioned on the Show:Books by Mike Matthews:https://legionathletics.com/products/books/Want free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

I’ve churned through over 150,000 emails, social media comments and messages, and blog comments in the last 6 years.And that means I’ve fielded a ton of questions.As you can imagine, some questions pop up more often than others, and I thought it might be helpful to take a little time every month to choose a few and record and share my answers.So, in this round, I answer the following question:Does energy flux have any significant effects on fat loss and muscle retention?If you have a question you’d like me to answer, leave a comment below or if you want a faster response, send an email to mike@muscleforlife.comMentioned on the Show:Shop Legion Supplements Here:https://buylegion.com/mikeWant free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women:https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

If you (k)need help with your knees (har har), this podcast is for you.That’s because I’m having a chat with Ben Patrick, also known as the Knees Over Toes Guy, and we’re talking all about improving knee function and pain.In case you’re not familiar with Ben, he’s taken the fitness world by storm with a seemingly controversial and contrarian stance on the old adage of never pushing your knees past your toes. So much so that he’s gained over 1 million followers across social media fast, and been featured on the Joe Rogan podcast.Ben gave up a career in college basketball to help people build strong, healthy knees, reduce knee pain, avoid surgery, and unlock their athletic potential.We’ll get more into his background in the interview, but after spending his teenage years riddled with chronic knee pain and getting knee surgery, he developed his own system to build bulletproof knees. Now he can perform impressive feats of lower body mobility and knee strength, and coaches everyone from to newbies dealing with knee issues to elite athletes wanting to perform their absolute best.In this interview, Ben and I talk about how he rehabilitated two dysfunctional knees, the benefits of walking backwards and reverse step-ups, supplements that can help with joint pain, and a whole lot more.So if you want to learn how Ben beat chronic knee pain, and how certain simple exercises can unlock your true athletic potential, listen to this interview!Timestamps:6:49 - Why knees over toes? What is the significance of that?17:24 - How did you start healing your knees to play professional basketball?23:11 - Where did it go from there?57:31 - What are some supplements that people should take for knee pain?Mentioned on the Show:Ben Patrick’s Instagram:www.instagram.com/kneesovertoesguy/Ben Patrick’s YouTube:www.youtube.com/channel/UCGybO-bWZ3W6URh42sdMQiwBen Patrick’s Program:atgonlinecoaching.comShop Legion Supplements Here:buylegion.com/mikeWant free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

This podcast is all about reps in reserve (RIR). Specifically, I’ll discuss what that is and why you should be tracking it in your workouts.If you’re familiar with my work, you’re probably already tracking a lot of things: your body weight, how much weight you’re putting on the bar, your sets and reps, and more. One thing you’re probably not tracking, however, is reps in reserve.After your first 6 to 8 months of training and you’ve passed thenewbie gains phase, reps in reserve becomes vital in your training. This is true whether you're usingdouble progression or linear periodization.I’ve talked before about how to use reps in reserve and why I prefer it overRPE, but this episode is specifically about tracking RIR and how I’ve found it very beneficial.Timestamps:3:35 - What are reps in reserve?8:35 - Strength training and reps in reserve15:25 - Isolation exercises and reps in reserveMentioned on the Show:Shop Legion Supplements Here:https://buylegion.com/mikeWant free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

In this podcast, I interview Joe Chura, who used what he learned in Bigger Leaner Stronger to get healthy and fit, and improve his well-being.Before finding my work, Joe was climbing the ranks in the automotive industry and building his own dealership company, Dealer Inspire. Unfortunately, while he was successfully growing his business, he neglected his health, and things started to deteriorate.Between drinking a lot of alcohol, not making time to exercise, and work stress, he was more than 50 pounds overweight and developed health issues like WPW syndrome and had to have back surgery.Once he sold his companies, though, and nearly having a heart attack, he realized how important his health was. After all, what good was all his hard work if he worked himself to death? And that’s where my work comes in.Joe found and read Bigger Leaner Stronger and started following the workouts and improving his diet, which has helped him get fit and dramatically improve his everyday life.In this episode, we chat about . . .How Joe got started in the automotive industryHow he ignored his health and body while building his businessHis realization of how important physical health is and how he changed his routine and dietMaking time to readThe importance of having goals to work towardsHow to be productive while multi-tasking and the myth of the “overnight success”What he would've changed in his entrepreneurship journey knowing what he knows nowWhy he started his own podcastAnd more . . .So, if you want to hear Joe’s story and what he learned in Bigger Leaner Stronger that radically transformed his health for the better, listen to this podcast!Timestamps:7:49 - Where were you before you started the program?43:14 - As an entrepreneur, what would you have changed if you were to go back in time?Mentioned on the Show:Joe Chura’s Podcast:https://linktr.ee/notalmostthereJoe Chura’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/joe_chura/Legion VIP One-on-One Coaching:https://buylegion.com/vipWant free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

In this episode, I interview Mark Bell, also known as the "Meathead Millionaire” who invented the Sling Shot. In case you’re not familiar with Mark, he’s not only a successful entrepreneur, and inventor, but he’s a world ranked powerlifter (top 10 all-time with a total of 2,628 pounds), and the owner of Super Training Products Inc.He’s also the host of his own podcast (Mark Bell’s Power Project, on which I was recently a guest), and has a popularYoutube channel.For this interview, we originally planned to chat about powerlifting, but the conversation naturally diverted into a veritable bevy of other topics, which I think you’ll find interesting.Specifically, we talk about . . .Natty expectations, the power of steroids, and the best way to compete without drugsTestosterone levels and what happens once you start taking exogenous THow Mark likes to learn (it's not reading!)Finding your natural gifts and interests, developing them, and becoming "world class"Changing your mindset (why it's harder to be stagnant than to say no to short-term pleasures)And more . . .So if you want to hear from the mind of a very successful entrepreneur who also knows a thing or two about lifting some of the heaviest objects humans can lift, you’re going to love this podcast!Timestamps:38:45 - How do you prefer to learn?Mentioned on the Show:Mike Matthews on Mark Bell's Power Project Podcast:youtu.be/LTmk6ZYwSRUMark Bell's Instagram:www.instagram.com/marksmellybell/?hl=enMark Bell’s Personal YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT4h7JebxFzSplk6zn0tAdAMark Bell Super Training Gym YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/supertraining06Mark Bell’s Slingshot & Other products:https://markbellslingshot.com/Shop Legion Supplements Here:https://buylegion.com/mikeWant free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

This podcast is all about building your arms. Whether you’re a guy who wants to put on mass or a gal who wants more defined and toned arms, this episode is going to help.While most guys want arms as big as possible, and most women I’ve talked to care more about toning their arms than adding size, the solution is the same.You want to build muscle and strength in your arms, and reduce your levels of body fat. That’s the key.And the surprising truth for most women is they need a lot more muscle and strength in their arms than they realize. That is, they’re going to have to get a lot stronger and more muscular than the average woman who doesn’t train to get their desired look. That’s how you get sculpted, defined arms that aren’t big and bulky.Most arm workouts online are all about blitzing your biceps and triceps with huge amounts of volume and fancy techniques until you can no longer move your noodly appendages, which just isn’t as effective as what I’m going to share with you in this podcast.So, press play if you want to hear my favorite tips for getting fitter, bigger, more toned arms.Timestamps:5:54 - Mike’s top 5 tips for better arm workouts19:49 - An example of an effective arm workout22:03 - Bicep’s workout example29:64 - Tricep’s workout example32:07 - How often should I be training my arms?Mentioned on the Show:Legion VIP One-on-One Coaching:https://buylegion.com/vipWant free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/