The Ripped Body Podcast

"I don't track my macros either, and loads of people are surprised when they hear that because I talk about it all the time. But if you want to do it via the simplest method possible, why would you track more meticulously than you need to?"Ben Carpenter is an in-demand and immensely popular UK-based personal trainer. He's well versed in all the geeky stuff we fitness nerds like to talk about on the internet, but I would argue that his special talent lies in the ways he takes that information and breaks it down to advise the regular folks who walk into his gym. In this interview, we did into that.We also discuss his incredible physical recovery from losing nearly 50lbs, all his hard-earned muscle mass and more, twice(!) after suffering bouts of Crohn's disease, and most common mistakes he sees with his clients with advice on how you can avoid making them.For detailed show notes and links, head to www.rippedbody.com/podcast-ben-carpenter

In this 60-minute interview, researcher and coach, Eric Helms, answers twenty reader questions posted in our Facebook Group. We talk about a variety of topics including RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion), full-body versus splits, protein frequency and how bodybuilders can progress through a plateau.The show also starts off with an exclusive musical number by yours truly. Enjoy!For detailed show notes and links - Click here www.rippedbody.com/podcast-eric-helms-3

How can we stay up to date with training research? What is the point of even trying to do so when we have studies coming out that seemingly contradict one another so often?Fresh off of finishing up his Ph.D., I welcome Eric Helms back on the podcast to explain why these seeming contradictions exist, how research can be useful, and the tools we can use to stay on top of it.We begin with a story of the hard realities of conducting the type of studies we want - those that will tell us how to get more jacked and ripped. Eric, as always, totally crushes this. I hope you enjoy this conversation with my friend, co-author, researcher, geek, powerlifter, bodybuilder, and highly sought-after coach, Eric Helms.For detailed show notes and links - Click here www.rippedbody.com/podcast-eric-helms-2

On this episode of the Rippedbody Podcast, I welcome back researcher and online coach, James Krieger, who I have invited back on the show to discuss one of the most important considerations for tweaking a nutrition and training program, individual differences.Research is great at telling us what will likely work on average, but it isn't able to tell you what will work best for YOU. In this interview, James suggests some simple questions you need to ask yourself when looking to optimize your nutrition and training strategies.Not only is James one of the most educated researchers out there, he is also one of the most genuine guys in the industry and I really enjoyed this second deep dive chat with the one and only, James Krieger.For detailed show notes and links - Click here www.rippedbody.com/individual-differencesThanks for listening!

Welcome to this frank conversation with writer, speaker, strength and conditioning specialist, power lifter, and the owner of Push Private Fitness in LA, Chad Landers. Chad has been a 'legit' trainer to rock stars and Hollywood actors for over 24 years and throughout this interview you’ll find simple, actionable, no-nonsense advice, which is all too often absent from this area of the industry.For the first half, we focus on how his nutrition and training advice differs for his actor clients on a time crunch versus his regular clients. In the second half, we talk about how Chad built his career, going from a farm in Illinois to being California state co-chair of USA Powerlifting, and training Hollywood clients in Studio City.For detailed show notes and links - Click here www.rippedbody.com/podcast-chad-landersThanks for listening!

On this episode of the Rippedbody Podcast, I interview one of Britain's most well-known sports nutritionists, Martin MacDonald. We discuss Martin's beginnings in the industry, including his early "lucky break" that catapulted him into sports nutrition superstardom, becoming one of the countries most popular celebrity trainers, and now the owner and founder of the recently created Mac-Nutrition University.Martin also goes on to discuss why he felt the need to create his 12-month Mac-Nutrition University course, addressing the gap after graduation between theory and practice, and in the last half of the episode, we chat about walking the tightrope of calling out charlatans in the industry.For detailed show notes and links click here: www.rippedbody.com/podcast-martin-macdonald. Thanks for listening

On this Rippedbody podcast, I answer listener questions. Topics covered include my stance on intermittent fasting, tips for maintaining strength during a cut, how I determine a client's ideal body weight, my stance on calorie cycling for maximizing results, and many more.Thanks to all of you that submitted your question via Facebook and Instagram and hope you gain some valuable knowledge from this episode.For detailed show notes and links click here: rippedbody.com/podcast-andy-morgan/

On this episode of the Rippedbody Podcast, I interview sports nutritionist, researcher extraordinaire, educator, and one of the most influential figures in the fitness industry’s movement towards evidence-based information, Alan Aragon.Alan shares the inspiring story of his career journey to date, starting off the “wrong foot”, his feelings about the hoard of smart upcoming talent in the industry biting at his heels, plus the one piece of advice he would give for those looking to build a career in the fitness industry.I also get Alan’s take on the recent HMB study, and as per usual, Alan does not disappoint with his honest and very diplomatic answer.For detailed show notes and links click here: https://rippedbody.com/podcast-alan-aragon/

On this episode of the Rippedbody Podcast, I interview James Krieger. James is a published scientist, author, speaker, fitness competitor, statistical wizard and the mind behind the immensely popular blog and membership site, Weightology.net.We discuss the different methods available for tracking body fat percentage, the two-component model used by BIA machines, my secret method to cheating on a B.I.A. scan, carb loading, and how to successfully assess your progress.James is a wealth of knowledge and we cover a really broad and interesting range of topics in this great chat.Show notes: - Any and James discuss Jame's website www.weightology.net. Andy believes these are some of the best written articles available on the net [00:20] - Today, Andy wants to dig into body fat measurement. [3:00]- The only way to measure your body fat percentage accurately [4:30]- Methods for measuring body fat percentage . [6:15]- Why James is not a fan of most measurements. [9:10]- Why the Bod Pod isn’t as good as other testing methods. [12:50]- The Two-compartment model and BIA Machines. [14:00]- How to see fat free mass DEXA Scan. [19:55]- Taking weight first thing in the morning to find a seven day average. [20:45]- How to cheat a DEXA scan - [22:10]- How much could you swing a BIA and how long would it take?. [24:10]- James talks about his first men’s physique show. [26:40]- Carb-loads and cheating. [29:30]- Andy’s secret recipe to cheat on a BIA measurement. [32:10]- “CheatYourBodyFatTest.com” Let’s get this setup. [33:00]- Back to two-compartment model . [34:40]- Why not all BIA machines are made equal. [38:30]- Talking Inbody: Any BIA machine will have an error. [41:00]- Assessing progress and finding the best methods. [44:00]- Andy’s Free Diet Guide. [48:00]- The future of James Krieger. [49:50]- James discusses his website membership section benefits. [53:00]- Reading opinions versus reading the direct research information. [56:00]- One wish for the fitness industry and human nature. [57:30|- If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. [1:01:00]For links to the resources talked about in the podcast, check out the show notes here: rippedbody.com/podcast-james-krieger

In this episode, I interview Tony Gentilcore, one of the three original founders of the exceptionally successful, Cressey Sports Performance, and now founder-owner of the new CORE training center in Boston.The interview starts off talking about the subjectiveness of strength, moves to training with purpose and intrinsic motivation, progressing the chin-up for women, the hollow hold positions, progressing the deadlift for men and finishes up with the “trainable menu”.Tony is one of the great personalities of the fitness industry. It was a hell of a lot of fun doing this interview and I hope you enjoy it.Show notes:- Writing [2:00]- How do you describe it is what you do [3:25]- Training with purpose. What are we working toward? [8:20]- THEME: PROGRESSING THE CHIN-UP FOR WOMEN- Intro: Progressing the Chin up for Women [9:00} - Woman are can be impeded by the media on what they can achieve. The ‘chin-up’ resonates with a lot of woman as a goal to work toward. [10:20]- Progression pattern to get that first chin-up. [13:50]- Tony’s impressive YouTube on form and technique. [17:15]- Hollow hold position as a first step. [19:00] - THEME: PROGRESSING THE DEADLIFT FOR MEN- Intro: Progressing the deadlift for men [26:00]- Deadlift stance. Conventional deadlift is actually the most difficult. [27:30]- How to get started with a conventional deadlift. [35:00]- Using video to fix deadlift technique. - THEME: THE "TRAINABLE MENU"- Intro: The "Trainable Menu". [39:00] - Working with your anatomy, “trainable menu”. [41:00]- Resources. [45:00]- More about Tony. [51:00]- Best deadlift article from Tony. [51:40]- Grant one wish for the industry. Not being dogmatic. [53:00]For links to the resources talked about in the podcast, check out the show notes here: rippedbody.com/podcast-tony-gentilcore