In episode 180 we cover our January 2025 Instagram Q&A. Per usual we kick off with some personal updates from ourselves. Then we dive into our Q&A. Topics this month range from training weaknesses, frequency, chest development, to defining a lean physique. Some lesser frequently discussed topics include fat loss strategies with insulin resistance, cardio training and its impact on hypertrophy, arm training, and lastly practical durations of bulking phases. As always, thanks for listening and for providing the questions for us to create these monthly episodes.

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Intro / Personal Updates

07:10 - If you have a weaker side, is it better to do a movement for the weaker side first and then match reps on the stronger side or to use rest pause to achieve reps equal to the stronger side?

14:39 - Hoping you can discuss training the same muscle group 2 days in a row. For context, I lift at home and am much more consistent if I do 25ish minutes 5 days per week than longer sessions less frequently. That typically means 2-3 movements per day. Although the movements don’t repeat 2 days in a row, the overlapping muscles do.

20:20 - My chest is my weakest bodypart despite training it 2x as much as any other. My main movement has been bench press where I’m decently strong 225x6, but chest still lagging. Ideas? 

26:06 - Do you use any metrics to figure out if an individual has enough muscle mass to maintain a solid, lean physique? Like a certain body weight for their height, certain strength standards?

31:50 - Can I mix protein powder and creatine in the same shake?

33:09 - Ways to achieve fat loss with insulin resistance?

39:53 - If your goal is to get as muscular as possible, what would your split be? 

47:42 - What is a good relative intensity for cardio that won’t hurt hypertrophy gains as much? 

50:26 - Frequency for arm training? 

55:09 - I’ve been listening to your podcast nonstop since I discovered it a few weeks ago. I am a decade plus lifter but just getting seriously into hypertrophy training. Anyways I know you’re a pro on home gym builds and equipment to value ratio. I can buy this hammer strength bilateral bench for like 650$. Is this a good machine?

57:59 - How long should one bulk for? Maintenance after the bulk or is cutting immediately ok?

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