Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews

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:- What is the Blood Type Diet and should you follow it?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 tomike@muscleforlife.com.---Mentioned on the Show:Shop Legion Supplements Here:buylegion.com/mike---Want free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

In this episode, I interview Ann and Lo (also known as theMinny Hustlers on Instagram), who readThinner Leaner Stronger and used what they learned to dramatically change their physiques and lives.Before finding TLS, Ann and Lo focused on what many women do--lots of cardio and lifting light weights. While they managed to prevent weight gain (the dreaded “freshman 15”...or 20...or 30), they didn’t know how to build the bodies they really wanted with toned arms and glorious glutes.Ever since they read the book in 2015 and learned what really moves the needle in terms of body composition, they’ve totally transformed their physiques, adding muscle in all the right places while stripping away fat, and building their strength to levels they had never seen before.And the best part is by working together, Ann and Lo were able to keep each other accountable and motivate one another to push through the tough times. They also used what they learned in the book to become Legion Athletes and launch their own Instagram page, which they use to educate and motivate other women to finally get their dream bodies and improve their own lives.In this interview, we talk about . . .The struggles of bulkingDealing with body image issuesTips that helped them transition to cutting while staying satisfiedHow flexible dieting changed the game for themHow gyms shutting down affected their cutAnd more . . .So if you’re looking for a jolt of inspiration and like motivational stories, definitely listen to this episode.Timestamps:5:01 - What does your before and after look like?6:13 - What results did you get from mostly cardio and low intensity weightlifting?12:47 - What has changed in the past couple years? Where are you currently in your fitness journey?14:48 - What were the bulking struggles that you experienced?17:16 - How did you deal with body image and bulking?25:51 - How did your first cut go?32:35 - Where do you want to go from here?37:10 - Any advice on supplements?Mentioned on the Show:Minny Hustlers Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/minnyhustlers/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, you’re going to learn about double progression, which is one of the best progression systems you can use.In fact, double progression has been part of my programs since 2012, and it’s still what I recommend today.So, in this episode you’re going to learn what double progression is, how to implement it in your training, how it differs from other types of progression, and how to get more out of it to gain muscle and strength faster.And if you’re not currently using double progression in your workouts, you’re definitely going to find this episode helpful.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro4:01 - What is double progression4:46 - How does double progression work?Mentioned on the Show:Shop Legion Supplements Here: https://buylegion.com/mikeBooks 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 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 myInstagram 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 . . .Is collagen protein superior to whey?Timestamps:4:12 - What is collagen protein?12:31 - Does whey protein have heavy metals in them?Mentioned on the Show:Books by Mike Matthews:https://legionathletics.com/products/books/Legion Whey+:https://legionathletics.com/products/supplements/whey-protein-powder/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, Jason McCarthy, CEO and founder of GORUCK, discusses his journey from serving in the Special Forces to starting a community-building business. He shares his experiences with relationships, marriage issues, and the challenges of turning a hobby into a successful business. They also talk about the origins of rucking and the tactical events he hosts. If you want to hear an inspiring story of turning a dream into reality, check out this episode!

In this podcast, you’re going to learn about supplements that can help you focus better. The ability to control your attention and focus for extended periods of time is one of the most important metaskills. That is, it’s a skill that makes other skills better. Mastering your attention and eliminating distractions can make a big difference in your life. You can train your ability to focus with meditation or use techniques like Pomodoro to accomplish more deep work. You can also address your environment, tipping the scales in your favor to accomplish goals faster and easier. Your internal environment plays a role too. You can also get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and eat well, which will all help boost your brain power. The last part of the equation is supplementation. Are there any supplements scientifically-validated to improve your ability to focus? Find out in this episode. Timestamps: 7:00 - What do you mean by focus? 10:43 - What supplements enhance focus? Mentioned on the Show: Books by Mike Matthews: https://legionathletics.com/products/books/ Pulse Pre-Workout: https://legionathletics.com/products/supplements/pulse-pre-workout/ Want free workout and meal plans? Download my science-based diet and training templates for men and women: https://legionathletics.com/text-sign-up/

Many people who follow me on Instagram after reading my book Bigger Leaner Stronger have been asking about my workouts lately. That’s because I’ve been posting my daily workouts in my stories, and what I’ve been doing doesn’t match my recommendations in BLS. Naturally, this causes a bit of confusion. So, what exactly am I doing in the gym, and why? Why am I not following my own program? Well, I am. I’m following Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger, which is my book for intermediate and advanced weightlifters. The workout routine in BLS is great for beginners, but if you’ve already gained your first 25 pounds of muscle and want to gain the remaining 15 pounds or so you have left before hitting your genetic ceiling, you want to follow Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger. So for this podcast, I’m going to share with you a chapter from my Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger audiobook where I break down the program in detail and explain how it works and how to do it. So if you want to know exactly how I’m training and see if it’s something for you, I think you’re going to like this episode! Timestamps: 10:34 - Periodization plan 12:09 - Training routines 17:16 - Workouts 23:15 - Progression methods 44:09 - Double Progression 48:07 - How long should I rest between sets? 53:20 - How to warm up for your workout? 56:58 - De-load week 59:58 - Should I do cardio? Mentioned on the Show: Legion VIP One-on-One Coaching: https://buylegion.com/vip Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger: https://legionathletics.com/products/books/beyond-bigger-leaner-stronger/ Want 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 like fresh content on a subject I haven't touched on before, you're going to love this episode.That's because I'm chatting with Joelle Samantha all about orthorexia, which is an eating disorder that focuses on food quality and “purity.” With more people entering the fitness game every year and consumers becoming more conscious of what they put into their bodies, many people are paying more attention to what they eat.For many people, this is a good thing. But with a greater focus on food quality,tracking food, andclean eating than ever before, and misinformation and fad diets abound, it's not too surprising that orthorexia and other types of similar eating disorders are on the rise.So, what causes orthorexia, how does it manifest in daily life, and what can people do about it? Joelle is here to help answer these questions.In case you're not familiar with her, Joelle has a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology and is an educator specializing in women’s health, nutrition, and physique development. She's also a Legion Athlete, and the head coach and CEO ofLevel TEN, an evidence-based coaching company.I thought she'd make a great guest to talk about orthorexia because she’s not only helped clients get through it, but it's something she's dealt with personally in her own life. Her own struggle with nutritional misinformation led to orthorexia, and is what inspired her to become the educator and coach she is today.In this interview, Joelle and I talk about . . .What orthorexia is and its relationship to control and perfectionismHow misinformation and an innocent desire to lose weight can spiral into orthorexiaOver-exercising and working out purely to “burn off” small mealsHow to recover from orthorexiaAnd more . . .So if you want to learn what orthorexia is, how it can develop, and what to do about it if you think you have an eating disorder, listen to this podcast.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro13:32 - How did the over exercising manifest?42:30 - What helped you out during the recovery phase?Mentioned on the Show:Joelle Samantha's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/joellesamantha/Level TEN Coaching:https://www.leveltencoaching.co/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/

Curcumin seems to be gaining momentum in the supplement space, and it’s not too surprising why. Studies show it has a number of health benefits, including reducing inflammation and joint pain. That said, it’s not as simple as eating a bunch of turmeric. If you want to get the most out of curcumin, you need to take the right amount of the right type. In this podcast, you’re going to learn what curcumin is, what it’s benefits are, the best type of curcumin to take (and how much), and more. Timestamps:  3:24 - What is curcumin? 4:35 - Why do people supplement with curcumin? 12:48 - How can curcumin help your body? 22:27 - What are the side effects of curcumin? Mentioned on the Show: Legion VIP One-on-One Coaching: https://buylegion.com/vip 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 recorded hundreds of episodes of Muscle for Life on a huge variety of things related to health, fitness, and lifestyle, ranging from the basics of diet and exercise like energy and macronutrient balance and progressive overload and training frequency and volume to fads like the ketogenic and carnivore diet and collagen protein to more unfamiliar territories like body weight set point and fasted cardio. Some episodes resonate with my crowd more than others, but all of them contain at least a few key takeaways that just about anyone can benefit from (that’s what I tell myself at least). And as cool as that is, it poses a problem for you, my dear listener: Ain’t nobody got time for that. Well okay, some people do make the time to listen to most or even all of my podcasts, but my wizbang analytics tell me that while many listeners tune in on a regular basis, they don’t catch every installment of Muscle for Life and thus miss out on insights that could help them get a little better inside and outside the gym. People have also been saying they’d like me to do more shorter, multi-topic episodes, like my Q&As. And so I got an idea: how about a “best of” series of podcasts that contains a few of the most practical and compelling ideas, tips, and moments from my most popular episodes? This way, people who are new to the show can quickly determine if it’s for them or not, and those who enjoy what I’m doing but don’t have the time or inclination to listen to all of my stuff can still benefit from the discussions and find new episodes to listen to. So, in this installment of The Best of Muscle for Life, you’ll be hearing hand-picked morsels from three episodes: Kurtis Frank on the Science of Controlling Your Appetite (Originally published 10/24/2018) 6 Things You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Steroids (Originally published 9/28/2018) Book Club: The ONE Thing (Originally published 8/21/2017) And we’ll be starting with number one, Kurtis Frank on the Science of Controlling Your Appetite. Timestamps: 5:05 - Kurtis Frank on the Science of Controlling Your Appetite 13:59 - 6 Things You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Steroids 21:25 - Book Club: The ONE Thing 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/