3D Muscle Journey

Discover the ins and outs of cardio programming as coaches discuss when and how to implement it during fat-loss phases. Learn why a step goal might be more beneficial than a calories-burned target. Explore the role of additional cardio for overall health, appetite stimulation during gaining phases, and the impact of different training modalities. Plus, insights on tapering cardio before competitions and the ongoing importance of recovery and movement in physical training.

Brad and Jeff discuss the physical and mental characteristics of a successful bodybuilder, how to maximize *your* potential, and the amazing things that happen when you let yourself be free of worrying about your genetics. How can you know if you’re going to be good at bodybuilding? How do you know if a certain recommendation applies to you? What is the *art* of bodybuilding? What was Brad’s mindset during his 2024 prep, which he felt led to his best physique ever? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 1:44- Bone structure 9:09- How to know if you’re going to be good at bodybuilding 20:30- Commit and be patient 28:49- The skill component of lifting 40:06- How to know if a certain recommendation applies to you 51:40- Acceptance of the phase that you’re in 57:54- The *art* of bodybuilding 1:00:40- Brad’s mindset during his 2024 prep Selected Links From This Episode Coaching By Team 3DMJ- ⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching⁠ Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪  SIGN UP FOR ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SERVICES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TAKE OUR VIDEO COURSES FOR SERIOUS LIFTERS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/bundles/vip⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj

Brian, a seasoned diet coach for athletes, Steve, a fitness expert focused on motivation, and Alberto, who specializes in nutritional strategy adjustments, dive into how and when to adjust diet plans. They discuss the importance of minimal changes based on adherence and progress. The trio emphasizes the psychological effects of diet changes and the need to look beyond the scale. They share insights on managing weight gain during training, the nuances of calorie adjustments, and maintaining a healthy balance between dietary habits and athletic performance.

Alberto, Brian, and Eric have a spirited debate about who they each think are the top 5 natural male bodybuilders of all time. The coaches talk about the early years of Kai Greene’s career when he was natural, the criteria they think is required for someone to be the GOAT (greatest of all time), who they think is the GOAT and why, honorable mentions, and a lot more. Bodybuilding is where art meets science meets sport, and if you are a fan of natural bodybuilding you will love this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:19- Brian’s history as a bodybuilder, coach, and fan of natural bodybuilding 3:51- Why Alberto is qualified to talk about the topic of today’s episode 13:38- The criteria for eligibility in the coaches’ top 5 lists 21:50- Three of Alberto’s top 5 natural male bodybuilders of all time 32:00- Three of Brian’s top 5 natural male bodybuilders of all time 40:40- Three of Eric’s top 5 natural male bodybuilders of all time 50:16- The rest of the coaches’ lists 1:03:47- Honorable mentions 1:17:11- The coaches’ top 5 natural male bodybuilders of all time in order Selected Links From This Episode The 3DMJ Vault- ⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/bundles/vip⁠ The Vault Quick Start Guide (Vault Course)- ⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/quick-start-guide⁠ Pro Bodybuilder Case Study (Vault Course)- ⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/pro-bodybuilder-case-study⁠ The Recovery Diet (Vault Course)- ⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/the-recovery-diet⁠ Sustainable Fat Loss (Vault Course)- ⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/sustainable-fat-loss⁠ Blood Flow Restriction Training (Vault Course)- ⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/BFR⁠ Monthly Applications In Strength Sport (MASS)- ⁠https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/mass⁠ Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪  SIGN UP FOR ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SERVICES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TAKE OUR VIDEO COURSES FOR SERIOUS LIFTERS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/bundles/vip⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj

Alberto, Jeff, and Nick discuss the struggles with gaining weight in the offseason, finding your ideal rate of gain, identifying what your current rate of adaptation is, and advice to help you stay patient when you’re doing all you can do. Who should bulk? What can happen when you get too fixated on gaining weight at a certain rate or weighing a certain amount? What were the coaches’ motivations for and experiences while intentionally gaining weight for the first time? How beneficial is a “dreamer’s bulk”? Can you force-feed muscle growth? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 3:43- The coaches’ motivations for and experiences while intentionally gaining weight for the first time 21:37- How beneficial is a “dreamer’s bulk”? 33:09- Finding the ideal rate of gain and offseason weight for you 38:29- Markers the coaches look at to help them determine if an athlete is gaining at a good rate 46:58- Knowing what your/your athlete’s current rate of adaptation is 50:13- Advice for staying patient and on track in the offseason 55:42- Feeling like you have unfinished business at the end of a prep Selected Links From This Episode The 3DMJ Vault- https://www.3dmjvault.com/bundles/vip The Vault Quick Start Guide (Vault Course)- https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/quick-start-guide Pro Bodybuilder Case Study (Vault Course)- https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/pro-bodybuilder-case-study The Recovery Diet (Vault Course)- https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/the-recovery-diet Sustainable Fat Loss (Vault Course)- https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/sustainable-fat-loss Blood Flow Restriction Training (Vault Course)- https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/BFR Monthly Applications In Strength Sport (MASS)- https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/mass Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪  SIGN UP FOR ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SERVICES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TAKE OUR VIDEO COURSES FOR SERIOUS LIFTERS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/bundles/vip⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj

Eric, Brad, and Brian discuss methods dual athletes can use to maximize their competitiveness in both bodybuilding and powerlifting. These same methods can also be used by noncompetitors who want to get big *and* strong. Why do the coaches program more bodybuilding work for their powerlifting athletes than they used to? Do the benefits of specificity max out at a certain point? How does specificity change over time? How does the minimum effective dose for novice lifters and advanced lifters differ? For most people, does training for bodybuilding and powerlifting at the same time actually result in suboptimal progress in one or both? Is there a potential benefit to training across a wider variety of rep ranges? How can the stimulus-to-fatigue ratio of an exercise differ between people? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 7:06- The biggest changes the coaches have made to the way they work with dual athletes 31:45- The proposed benefits of powerbuilding 50:56- Why Eric eventually had to decrease his powerlifting training so that he could make better progress on his bodybuilding goals 55:46- For most people, does training for bodybuilding and powerlifting at the same time actually result in suboptimal progress in one or both? 1:07:02- Do your training the way it was intended to be done 1:10:27- Why did 3DMJ originally start promoting a blended approach and create a lot of dual-sport athletes? Selected Links From This Episode Programs For The Platform (Vault Course)- https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/programs-platform The 3DMJ Vault- https://www.3dmjvault.com/bundles/vip Coaching By Team 3DMJ- https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪  SIGN UP FOR ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SERVICES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TAKE OUR VIDEO COURSES FOR SERIOUS LIFTERS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/bundles/vip⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj

Brad and Alberto share tips on bodybuilding competition prep. They discuss self-discovery, honest feedback, recovery process, and managing side effects. Emphasize importance of adherence, mental challenges, and balanced perspective during prep. Touch on differences in coaching for competitors and maintenance. Navigating emotional challenges and prioritizing well-being highlighted.

Andrea, Brad, and Brian host an audience-supplied Q and A session covering a wide range of interesting topics. Deep in prep, do the coaches ever have athletes experience serious medical issues? When training for hypertrophy, how many reps should you leave in reserve when doing compound exercises? What about isolation exercises? What is the difference between a movement’s RIR and a target muscle’s RIR? Is it more important to have carbs before your workout or after? Is it necessary to feel the mind-muscle connection when doing RDLs? Which food tracking apps do the coaches recommend? What are the coaches’ thoughts on calorie cycling for noncompetitors? The answers to these questions and many more are discussed in this episode.  Timestamps 0:00- Introduction 2:18- Deep in prep, do the coaches ever have athletes experience serious medical issues? How often do they request someone get blood work done and in what situations do they request it? 10:07- When training for hypertrophy, how many reps should you leave in reserve when doing compound exercises? What about isolation exercises?  19:44- What is the difference between a movement’s RIR and a target muscle’s RIR? 24:16- Is it more important to have carbs before your workout or after? 35:06- Is it necessary to feel the mind-muscle connection when doing RDLs? Should you feel it more in your glutes or hamstrings? 49:15- Which food tracking apps do the coaches recommend?  1:00:11- Things coaches can do that algorithms cannot do 1:03:55- For those who only train 1-3 times per week, are axially-loaded exercises that involve a lot of different muscle groups (such as deadlifts, squats, and standing overhead presses) good exercise selections? 1:10:33- The coaches’ thoughts on calorie cycling for noncompetitors  Selected Links From This Episode 3DMJ’s Instagram Account- @team3dmj 3DMJ’s Twitter/X Account- @team3dmj 3DMJ Podcast Episode #256: Is Using RPE Worth It?- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb0X87odRlQ Programs For The Platform (Vault Course)- https://www.3dmjvault.com/courses/programs-platform Why The Calories In Your Nutrition Tracking App And Your Spreadsheet Do Not Match (Article by Brad Loomis)- https://3dmusclejourney.com/macro-discrepancies/ Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪  SIGN UP FOR ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SERVICES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TAKE OUR VIDEO COURSES FOR SERIOUS LIFTERS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmjvault.com/bundles/vip⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj

Coaches discuss how their hypertrophy programming has evolved, emphasizing open-mindedness, new training techniques, and the benefits of training at longer muscle lengths. They highlight the importance of range of motion, managing fatigue, and learning from past mistakes in programming. The conversation delves into the shift towards hard sets over total tonnage, individualized programming, and the potential benefits of lengthened partials for hypertrophy.

Experienced bodybuilding dads share insights on balancing fitness goals and parenthood, emphasizing staying competitive, flexibility, optimizing training time, and promoting a healthy body image to their kids. This episode offers valuable takeaways for current and future parents.