Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews

This episode is part of a weekly 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:Every Monday morning, I’m going to 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 every Monday morning for the latest and greatest installment.Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter!Click here: www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

If you’re like, well, most everyone, you have at least a little bit of joint pain.Maybe it’s your shoulder, or your knee, or your hips, and maybe the pain comes and goes or maybe it lingers.Maybe you’ve tried things to sort it out like stretching, resistance training, foam rolling, anti-inflammatories, and natural supplements like glucosamine chondroitin, only to be disappointed.And now you’re looking for information on yet another supplement that promises to finally soothe your joint pain—collagen.Can it?Well, the long story short is yes, it absolutely can.As with all natural supplements, some work better for some people than others, but there is good scientific evidence that collagen can indeed reduce joint pain and inflammation and even benefit people with healthy joints.By the end of this episode, you’re going to know what collagen is, why people supplement with it, how it can improve your joint health, the best kind of collagen to take, and more.Let’s get to it.4:26 - What is collagen? 5:26 - Why do people take collagen? 6:05 - What are the benefits of collagen supplements? 8:02 - Why do athletes suffer from joint pains? 10:54 - What are the appropriate doses for collagen? 11:37- What are the results from taking collagen supplements? 13:35 - Do collagen supplements have any side effects?Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter!Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

What would you rather have—a Rolex watch or more vascular arms, legs, and abs?If you chose the latter, I like you, and you’ve come to the right place.Because while I can’t help you get a shiny new Yachmaster, I’m going to show you exactly what you need to become the proud owner of some new skin-popping veins.And yes, you can get more vascular even if you’re genetically the “smoother” type, like me.If you’re worried that you’ll never get to admire the beauty of your vascular system, take heart. By the end of this episode, you’ll be on your way.Let’s get to it.Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter!Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

Choosing a workout routine can be a daunting task.You have to decide how many days to train, which muscle groups to work on which days, which exercises to do, how many sets and reps to perform, how to program in progressive overload, and on and on.It’s no wonder that so many people find weightlifting overwhelming and confusing, and why they often choose the simplest option: full-body workouts.Most entail just a handful of exercises, don’t take too much time, and hit every major muscle group in the body, and popular strength training programs like Starting Strength, StrongLifts 5×5, and The Texas Method have conclusively proven that they produce results.Seems like a 360-degree win, right?Not necessarily.The long story short is you can build a great physique using full-body workouts, but you’re probably going to get faster and better results with a different approach.This is especially true if you’ve already been lifting weights for a bit, and in this episode, you’re going to learn why.By the end, you’re going to know what full-body workouts are, who they do and don’t work well for, and how to get the most out of a full-body workout routine if you choose to follow one.Let’s get started.4:27 - What is a full-body workout? 6:23 - What are the problems with full-body workouts? 18:58 - What are the best exercises for full-body workouts?Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter!Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

It’s 6 AM and you trudge toward the bathroom like it’s the gallows.The cold winds of despair howl. Shadowy fingers clamp around your throat.Today you face judgement. Today is weigh-in day. You shuffle onto the scale and wait, like a deer gawking at the hunter’s rifle.The number flashes onto the screen. Not a number but the number. That same…damn…scowling…mocking…number.Why? Why the hell are you not losing weight?You’re doing everything right, you scream. You’re following all the rules! Your diet is “cleaner” than an operating room. Your “carbohydrate curfew” begins at 7 PM sharp. You’re cycling this and restricting that…for what?Well, I have good news for you: -You’re not genetically cursed.-Your metabolism is fine.-Your hormones aren’t conspiring to keep you fat.-You’re not eating too little of the “right” foods.-It’s not the carbohydrates, dairy, or artificial sweeteners, either.-The real reason you’re not losing weight is very simple. The solution is likely simple too.So say goodbye to weight loss “secrets,” “tricks,” “hacks, ” and other quackery. You’re about to meet the real science and physiology of weight loss and trust me–you’re going to fall in love.I know, I know. You don’t believe me yet but give me ten minutes and I’ll give you the keys to the weight loss castle.Let’s begin.Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter!Click here:https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

This episode is part of a weekly 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:Every Monday morning, I’m going to 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 every Monday morning for the latest and greatest installment.Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter!Click here: www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

Every month or so I like to read a book that I hope will just make me a little smarter.Well, this is one of the better “make me smarter” books that I’ve read in a long time. It’s chock-full of simple but profound psychological, behavioral, and economic insights that will make you a better thinker and decision maker and help you avoid some of the more common cognitive pitfalls that lead people astray in their lives, and the arguments and examples presented in the book are exceptionally clear and orderly, which gives you a firsthand look at how a brilliant mind works—an ideal to strive toward in your own reasoning and analysis.This book is also a good read for anyone interested in becoming a better marketer, because great marketing ideas ultimately come from a deep understanding of human psychology and persuasion, from creative translations of observations about how people think and behave into commercial applications.One of the things that most struck me while reading this book is just how easily we can be manipulated—and just how much of our personalities and lives can run on automatic—if we don’t make a conscious effort to at least consider zigging when something in us really wants to zag.This is particularly relevant in today’s political and social climates. The propaganda machines of every side of every debate are in overdrive, and are more sophisticated than ever, but they still rely for their power on the exploitation of many of the thinking traps and cognitive biases discussed in this book. Simply reading about these inborn deficiencies doesn’t necessarily cure us of them, but hey, maybe they’ll help us see through some of the daily dose of demagoguery and agitprop.Anyway, the bottom line is if you like to learn about what goes on behind the curtains of our minds and how it influences our attitudes, emotions, choices, and behaviors, then this book is for you.Want to be notified when my next book recommendation goes live?Hop on my email list and you’ll get each new installment delivered directly to your inbox.Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

In this episode I interview Cassandra, who recently completed my 90 day coaching service. As you will hear, she had some pretty outstanding results. She lost about 25 pounds and 6% body fat while gaining strength on her key lifts in just 90 days.In this interview, she is going to share a bit of her back story. She is going to share with us what she had done previously and where it got her, what worked, what didn’t work, and how she found her way to me, my work, and my coaching service.She is also going to share some of the things she learned along the way.As with anything, you go in with a plan, but then you have to adjust. You have to adapt to what actually happens and what actually works and what doesn’t.In her case, she was running into a lot of morning hunger, so she talked with her coach to find the optimal meal timing, meal sizing, and meal composition. Specifically, she talks about how she ate her carbs throughout the day to stave off the hunger and ultimately stick to the plan and get the results she wanted.4:48 - What were your results after our coaching program? 8:21 - How much weight did you lose? 9:17 - What led to your weight gain and how did you begin your fitness journey? 15:53 - How did you overcome your embarrassment of going to the gym? 26:14 - What were some of the obstacles you had during our coaching program? 26:41 - What was your meal plan? 40:51 - What are your goals after our coaching program?Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter! Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

This episode is part of a weekly 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:Every Monday morning, I’m going to 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 every Monday morning for the latest and greatest installment.Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter!Click here: www.muscleforlife.com/signup/

You’re probably here because you want to gain muscle or lose fat faster and you’re wondering if estrogen blockers can help.You’ve probably also seen fantastical claims about what these drugs and supplements can do to your physique.You’re not alone. Thousands of others are searching about estrogen blockers every day, too, because they’ve heard the same blarney that brought you here.And in this episode, we’re going to get to the bottom of it all.Now, the war against estrogen is at a fever pitch these days because it’s riding on the coattails of its big brother, testosterone, which is also on a lot people’s minds.It’s common knowledge that raising your testosterone levels can help you gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster, which is why more and more people are snapping up testosterone booster supplements and signing up for testosterone replacement therapy.Most people also know that raising testosterone levels also raises estrogen levels, and that high estrogen levels is generally associated with higher levels of body fat, erectile dysfunction, and feminizing effects like gynecomastia.Furthermore, it’s also often assumed that lowering estrogen levels in and of itself can improve body composition and virility, and especially in people that are “estrogen dominant” and thus incapable of gaining any considerable amount of muscle and strength.Is all the estrogen hype warranted, though? And are estrogen blocking drugs and supplements effective, safe, and legal, like many people claim?Well, here’s the long story short:Synthetic estrogen blockers absolutely work. With the right drugs, you can plunge your estrogen to rock-bottom levels.Unfortunately, however, that isn’t going to help you build a better physique, and it’s going to screw up your health, to boot.And what about natural estrogen blockers?Well, they’re even more worthless in that they won’t even significantly impact your estrogen or testosterone levels, let alone help you gain muscle or lose fat faster.By the end of this episode, you’re going to understand all this and more, so let’s start at the top…5:39 - What is estrogen? 7:01 - What are estrogen blockers? 9:38 - How do pharmaceutical estrogen blockers work? 11:31 - Why are estrogen blockers popular? 17:08 - Are estrogen blockers safe?Want to get my best advice on how to gain muscle and strength and lose fat faster? Sign up for my free newsletter! Click here: https://www.muscleforlife.com/signup/