IFBB Pro Kuba Cielen joins Scott McNally to break down exactly how to maintain muscle in a calorie deficit. We cover diet strategy, training adjustments, and enhanced bodybuilding considerations to help you get lean without losing size.

If you’re cutting and want to keep your hard-earned muscle, this is for you.

0:00 Exercise Selection When Dieting

1:00 Kuba’s Current Off-Season

1:30 Why He’s Not Running IGF Yet

8:00 Using SLU-PP-332

14:04 Dieting Without Losing Muscle

32:53 Training in a Deficit

44:13 PEDs for Muscle Retention

Support THINK BIG Bodybuilding
Help keep the podcast going — even $5/month makes a difference.
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The Arnold Classic is almost here, so we’re taking a trip through some of the greatest moments in Arnold history.

Ron, Dusty, and Scott revisit legendary wins from Flex Wheeler, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Victor Martinez, Branch Warren, and Cedric McMillan — and talk about what made each one special.

We also break down what makes the Arnold different from other shows, the crowd energy, expo experiences, and give early predictions for Andrew Jacked.

If you love bodybuilding history mixed with honest opinions and stories from inside the sport, this one’s for you.

0:00 Cedric’s 2017 Arnold Win

0:40 Welcome Back3:20 Hockey Lessons & Bodybuilding

12:30 Arnold Classic Memories

13:55 Flex Wheeler 1993

16:30 Ronnie Coleman 1999

21:00 Jay Came in Too Light?

22:00 Victor Martinez 2007

25:30 Branch Warren 2012

34:30 Cedric 2017 Revisited

40:15 Derek Lunsford

45:00 Arnold Crowd Energy

50:50 Getting Attention at Expos

55:00 Scott Meets Branch

58:00 Jay 2004 Stories

1:05:45 What Makes The Arnold Special

1:06:45 Andrew Jacked Predictions

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Dr Kurt Havens joins the show to explain his testosterone cypionate research and clear up misconceptions about ester response and genetics. Afterward, Dave and Scott answer listener questions on thyroid use, cutting phases, metformin, GLP medications, TRT decline, MENT, and more.

0:00 Testosterone cypionate and using what works

0:40 Show intro

1:30 Dr Kurt Havens joins

2:10 The testosterone cypionate variability study

7:30 Ester case study example

11:35 Genetics and steroid response

14:30 Simple explanation for lifters

16:40 Ethics of studying anabolic steroids

19:15 Differences between testosterone esters

24:00 Post interview discussion

32:30 Listener questions begin

34:20 Thyroid hormones for fat loss

41:44 Building a cutting diet

45:20 How long should a health phase last

51:45 Metformin use in bodybuilding

53:10 Retatrutide and GLP drugs

55:30 Anti progesterone compounds on cycle

56:45 Top 5 fat loss add ons

59:40 ED issues on testosterone

1:03:00 TRT levels declining over time

1:08:10 Does overtraining build muscle

1:17:15 MENT as TRT

1:18:30 Final advice

Jim McMahon, CEO of Mutant, joins us to talk business — and to explain why protein powder has gotten so expensive.

We get into the real reasons behind rising whey prices, supply chain issues, and what it actually costs to run a supplement company right now. Jim shares insight into branding, industry trends, and how the business side of bodybuilding really works.

If you’ve been shocked at the price of your supplements lately, this episode will make it make sense.

In this episode of Blood Sweat & Gear on Think Big Bodybuilding, coaches Skip Hill, Andrew Berry and Scott McNally answer your toughest bodybuilding questions — covering testosterone dosing, TRT, growth hormone protocols, hematocrit management, contest prep strategy and the current state of the underground PED market.

We break down Olympia-level peaking consistency, bloodwork timing after dose adjustments, managing PSA on cycle, GH side effects, first cycle dosing, and whether size is really determined by how much you take. We also debate old school mass monsters, critique physiques live, and talk coaching strategy for competitors vs lifestyle lifters.

Blood Sweat & Gear is a bodybuilding Q&A podcast where three experienced prep coaches share real-world insight on contest prep, PED education, training principles and long-term progress.

Timestamps:

0:00 Bodybuilding Q&A with Skip, Andrew & Scott
1:00 Competing to Beat the Field or Your Personal Best
5:00 How Judging Panels Actually Work
7:50 Sports Betting and Bodybuilding
12:00 Nick Walker 2024 vs 2025
15:45 Peaking Like an Olympia Champion
17:30 Coaching Athletes Across Multiple Shows
18:45 Underground Steroid Market Update
22:50 Comment Section Spam Warning
24:40 Hardcore Bodybuilding Without Competing
33:10 PED Use for Competitors vs Lifestyle Lifters
38:00 Cardio, RBC and Hematocrit
41:45 Every Other Day GH with Tesamorelin
46:00 GH Releasing Peptides
50:00 Arnold Classic Plans
53:20 Is 250mg Test Enough to Start
56:00 Finding Affordable Labs
57:40 Are Lab Subscriptions Worth It
1:03:30 Estrogen Testing After Dose Changes
1:08:30 Nationals vs Another Local Show
1:18:00 Mini Cut vs Holding Weight
1:23:00 Size vs Dose Discussion
1:28:50 Managing PSA on Cycle
1:38:00 TRT After a Cycle
1:40:50 Numbness on Growth Hormone
1:44:40 Higher vs Lower Test with EQ and NPP
1:45:55 Skip’s DHB Experience
1:47:30 Libido Drop After Test EQ
1:49:12 Old School Bodybuilding Debate
1:57:00 Physique Critique
2:02:45 Behind the Scenes

Support THINK BIG Bodybuilding
Help keep the podcast going — even $5/month makes a difference.
https://www.patreon.com/thinkbigbodybuilding

Official Sponsor: TRUE NUTRITION
Custom supplements trusted by serious lifters. Third-party tested and fully customizable.
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Coaching:
Skip Hill — http://www.teamskip.com
Andrew Berry — http://www.bodyberry.com
Scott McNally — [email protected]

Arnold Classic is 3 weeks out and we’re breaking down the latest updates.

Sam Sulek’s insane size, Classic Physique contenders like Mike Sommerfeld and Wesley Vissers, and a peek at Nick Walker’s potential strategy. Plus, fun carbs vs complex carbs, the wildest mass shakes, 3 anabolics for prep vs offseason, and Ron digging out an old-school Winstrol bottle.

Straight bodybuilding talk. No fluff.

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0:00 Ron’s OG Winny Bottle Story
1:00 Podcast Intro
2:00 Mutant at Shaun Clarida’s Gym
6:00 Does Martin Hate Us?
12:00 Sam Sulek Physique Talk
15:00 Mike Sommerfeld 3 Weeks Out
18:00 Wesley Vissers Update
23:00 Nick Walker’s Strategy
25:20 Fun Carbs vs Complex Carbs
29:40 Craziest Mass Shakes
38:12 3 Anabolics for Prep and Offseason
47:45 Steroid Time Capsule

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🔴 OFFICIAL SPONSOR
MUTANT® — Born Different. Born Hardcore!
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📲 FOLLOW THE HOSTS
Ron Partlow — https://www.instagram.com/rep300
Dusty Hanshaw — https://www.instagram.com/dustyhanshaw08
Scott McNally — https://www.instagram.com/scottmcnally1

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In this episode, we break down what “safe” cycles really mean, risk vs reward, managing estrogen, hair loss, TRT options, and whether you can optimize without running gear. Plus some classic tangent chaos at the end.

0:00 What Is a “Safe” Cycle?
1:15 Welcome to DNS
4:00 Risk vs Reward: The 5 Safest Approaches
9:00 Which Steroid Family Is Safest?
10:00 Are You Even a Good Candidate?
13:00 High-Test as a “Safe” Option
14:45 Primo vs Mast
17:45 Anavar vs Oral Turinabol
22:00 Equipoise Deep Dive
28:00 Managing Hair Loss
31:45 Tendon Ruptures & Injury Risk
34:00 Minimum Effective EQ Dose
36:00 MENT & Estrogen Conversion
41:15 Oral Testosterone for TRT
43:30 Optimizing Without a Cycle
47:00 Running Gear Post-Surgery
49:00 Extreme Stretching Talk
53:30 Messing With Dave
55:00 High-Test Estrogen Problems
58:00 Test to Mast Ratios
1:00:00 Test Cyp Debate
1:08:30 WWII Tangent
1:16:15 Bonus Footage

Support the show:

Patreon
Help us grow the podcast. Even $5 per month makes a difference.
https://www.patreon.com/thinkbigbodybuilding

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0:00 Welcome Back to Blood Sweat & Gear
0:45 Updated Thoughts on Mitochondria Peptides
4:00 Andrew’s Protocol Breakdown
8:30 MOTS-C Real World Experience
16:00 TRT Bloodwork Timing
21:00 When Life Disrupts Your Cycle
24:20 Dieting Overseas
27:30 Moving to TRT+
30:00 Best Time to Take Dbol
35:40 Umbilical Hernia Concerns
43:14 Rotating Orals
44:50 Managing High Hematocrit
54:00 AAS Red Flags
57:20 Skip’s Word of the Day

Support THINK BIG Bodybuilding
Help keep the podcast going — even $5/month makes a difference.
https://www.patreon.com/thinkbigbodybuilding

Official Sponsor: TRUE NUTRITION
Custom supplements trusted by serious lifters. Third-party tested and fully customizable.
Save with code THINK: https://www.truenutrition.com/THINK

Official Think BIG Merch
Official t-shirts and merch: https://think-big.printify.me/products

Canadian Viewers — Supplements Made Easy
Top brand supplements with fast shipping in Canada: http://www.supplementsource.ca

Coaching :

http://www.teamskip.com

http://www.bodyberry.com

[email protected]

0:00 Intro

4:45 Is Martin Fitzwater Behind for the Arnold?

12:25 Samson Dauda Looking Huge

15:20 Why Fans Love Nick Walker

21:40 How Today’s Champions Changed Training Culture

37:45 What Happened to Science-Based Lifting?

47:55 Training Hard While Creating Content

54:27 Do people use Gym Pins Before Maxing the Machine Out?

Official Sponsor: MUTANT

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Save with codes BIGRON or DUSTY:

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Support THINK BIG Bodybuilding
Help keep the podcast going — even $5/month makes a difference.

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Official t-shirts and merch:

https://think-big.printify.me/products

0:00 Rotating steroid compounds?
0:15 Supporting the show and sponsors
2:00 Rotating compounds – old school vs modern approach
15:00 Short-acting compounds and rotation
22:00 Does MENT aromatize? Listener feedback
26:00 Putting steroid studies into context
28:20 SSRIs and Tren side effects
32:00 Anxiety from Tren
33:00 Addictive personalities and drug use
37:45 Too much ECA
39:30 MENT as a former oral compound
40:45 High-dose MENT and DHT
42:30 Premixed underground GH
44:00 Long-term Primo use
49:00 Low-dose MENT and prostate sensitivity
59:30 Are cheeseburgers really that bad?
1:00:00 McDonald’s stories
1:05:00 Uncle Dave’s wisdom
1:10:00 Dave’s modeling days
1:15:20 Watching Dave’s commercial
1:21:00 Behind the scenes

Support THINK BIG Bodybuilding
Help keep the podcast going — even $5/month makes a difference.
https://www.patreon.com/thinkbigbodybuilding

Official Sponsor: TRUE NUTRITION
Custom supplements trusted by serious lifters. Third-party tested and fully customizable.
Save with code THINK: https://www.truenutrition.com/THINK

Official Sponsor: STROM SPORTS NUTRITION
Health stacks and cycle support for US and UK.

Coaching & Consulting
Training, nutrition, and performance guidance for competitors and non-competitors.
Dave Crosland: https://www.instagram.com/davecrosland_/
Scott McNally: [email protected]

THINK BIG Bodybuilding Apparel
Official t-shirts and merch: https://think-big.printify.me/products

Canadian Viewers — Supplements Made Easy
Top brand supplements with fast shipping in Canada: http://www.supplementsource.ca

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