Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
In this episode the guys break down exactly how to be able to do pull ups in 30 days — covering the daily low intensity practice method, why you need to drop all other back work, why eating more and sleeping consistently will accelerate your results, and how to set up your test day for maximum performance. They also discuss whether chemical sunscreens are actually causing more cancer than they prevent, a large UK Biobank study showing frequent sunscreen users had up to 292% higher melanoma rates, why Crisp Power protein pretzels are outperforming traditional protein snacks on satiety, and...
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In this episode the guys break down exactly how to build the glutes, quads, and shoulders that women actually want — covering why you should train your priority body part first in the workout, how to shift volume away from other areas rather than just piling on more, why getting stronger in the big compound lifts like hip thrusts, squats, and overhead press is what actually builds muscle, why you have to eat in a surplus to build anything, and why balance still matters even when you're focused. MAPS Upper Lower: Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Women's blueprint included — emphasizes lower body,...
info_outlineMind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
In this episode the guys break down why 95% of people regain all the weight they lose — covering both the method (why cardio and starvation approaches are doomed from the start) and the mentality (the tyrant, the tyrannized, the rebel, and the robot). They also get into Sal's return from vacation and how coming back to Ketone IQ after a week and a half made him realize how well it actually works, feeding grizzly bears at Bear World near Yellowstone, the Toy Story 5 iPad villain and its zero effect on the kids who watched it, kids and freedom versus helicopter parenting, the guy who injected...
info_outlineMind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
Short answer: yes. Training each muscle group twice a week builds more muscle than once a week — the data is clear on this, and Sal, Adam, and Justin break down every reason why in this episode. From how fatigue silently kills your volume to why junk sets pile up when you try to cram everything into one workout, they pull back the curtain on what's actually happening inside your body when you split things up. You'll also learn why total training volume — not just sets, but reps AND weight — goes up automatically when you split your body across two sessions, and why that matters more...
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MAPS Upper Lower: https://mapsupperlower.com Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Includes male and female programs, workout videos, exercise demos, coaching videos and live coaching with Cole. In this episode the guys break down six fitness truths that 95% of people still get dead wrong — you don't need to train 5-6 days a week to build muscle, cardio is not the best way to lose fat long term, your metabolism isn't broken your habits are, protein timing matters far less than total daily intake, flexibility without strength is useless, and the real fountain of youth is the weight room....
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MAPS Upper Lower: Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Includes male and female programs, workout videos, exercise demos, coaching videos and live coaching with Cole. In this episode the guys break down the top 5 ways to do cardio ranked from worst to best — running, HIIT, steady state, walking, and playing. Sal shares his return to jiu jitsu after nearly 20 years away, his brother-in-law going easy on him, and why he expects to drop 10-15 pounds of muscle doing it. They also get into California pressuring utility companies to issue contracts to LGBT-certified businesses and the certification process,...
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In this episode the guys break down their brand new MAPS Upper Lower program — a classic four day bodybuilder split designed for people who want to shape, sculpt and build their body with more volume than a full body routine but without the intensity of programs like MAPS Aesthetic. They cover why the upper lower split is one of their personal favorite ways to train, how the three phase structure prevents plateaus, why the final phase ends with a five by five strength focus, and why they built separate men's and women's versions with different priority lifts. MAPS Upper Lower: Code: LAUNCH...
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In this episode the guys break down how to heal body dysmorphia — what it is, why it's especially common in the fitness industry, and five practical strategies to work your way out of it. They also get into Adam's appearance on Chalene Johnson's podcast and the conversations around gray market peptides and Retatrutide, a new study showing vitamin D and calcium supplements do nothing for bone strength without resistance training, the nuance around blood lipids and saturated fat, and how Scotland fans drank Boston out of beer during the World Cup. They also cover a fascinating discussion on...
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In this episode the guys sit down with elite speed and performance coach Brian Kula of Kula Sports Performance, the man who has trained Christian McCaffrey since he was 13 years old, Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, and dozens of other professional and Olympic athletes. Brian breaks down his Bounce Fire system for building safe running mechanics from the ground up, why strong athletes like Sal who never sprint are actually at higher injury risk than deconditioned ones, how the nervous system is the real reason hamstrings pull, why cold plunges can shut down the nervous system for up to 24 hours...
info_outlineMind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
In this episode the guys break down the seven best muscle building exercises you have probably never done — the bent press, circus press, Zottman curls, weighted windmills, heavy overhead carries, heavy trap bar farm walks, and tibialis raises. They also get into AI being used to expose congressional stock trading corruption (56% of congressional stock purchases are on companies directly impacted by bills they later voted on), the whey protein shortage and a new manufacturing technique that makes it taste even better, the history of sketchy old school supplements like Hot Stuff and what was...
info_outlineIn this episode, Sal, Adam & Justin speak with John Meadows who reveals all about what it takes to be a top-level bodybuilder.
- Why John doesn’t have a colon. (4:30)
- Was there anything he did that contributed to his digestion issues? (10:35)
- How did he change his approach coming back? (12:10)
- Has going through this experience forced him to become more in tune with his body? (14:55)
- What are the BIGGEST mistakes he sees with people trying to build muscle? (16:38)
- Has he found there is a RIGHT dose of protein for his body? (24:40)
- What are the big missing pieces in bodybuilder’s regimens? (26:03)
- What kind of things does he cover in his workshops? (29:42)
- What made him start to compete at a young age? (30:50)
- When did he start to use anabolic steroids? Was he a hyper responder? (34:20)
- Does he believe people do not cycle out anymore? (43:19)
- What are the differences between taking anabolics vs growth hormones? (45:17)
- His take on training and why certain bodybuilder’s physiques look more ‘granite.’ (54:38)
- What does he think of the new culture of thought around isolation movements being the BEST movements for most muscle activation? (1:00:45)
- What is the ‘Mountain Dog Diet’ and does food quality matter? (1:04:10)
- Is the trend starting to reverse with coaching in bodybuilding? (1:09:20)
- What is site enhancement oil (SEO)? (1:10:15)
- How bodybuilding is a different level of drugs in sport. (1:15:54)
- What is the difference in training people that are natural vs. people on ‘gear’? (1:18:16)
- His theory behind metabolism in competitive sports. (1:21:52)
- What is his take on people not adapting their training routines? (1:26:30)
- How social media killed bodybuilding. What does the future of bodybuilding look like? (1:34:04)
- If he was to go back and whisper into 22-year-old John’s ear, what would he tell himself? (1:40:13)
Featured Guest/People Mentioned
- John Meadows (@mountaindog1) Instagram/Twitter
- Dr. Jordan Shallow D.C (@the_muscle_doc) Instagram
- Flex Wheeler | Official (@officialflexwheeler) Instagram
- Stan "Rhino" Efferding (@stanefferding) Instagram
- Jon Call (@jujimufu) Instagram
- Kai Greene (@kaigreene) Instagram
- Ronnie Coleman (@ronniecoleman8) Instagram
- Ben Pakulski ® (@bpakfitness) Instagram
- Coach Daniel Matranga CSCS (@dynamic.danny) Instagram
- Brad Schoenfeld, PhD (@bradschoenfeldphd) Instagram
Products Mentioned:
- December Promotion: Enroll in Any MAPS Program – 1 Year of Forum Access for FREE!
- Mind Pump Free Resources
- Mind Pump Episode 865: Stan Efferding: The World's Strongest Bodybuilder
- Anabolic reference guide - Book by Bill Phillips
- Mind Pump Episode 715: Mind Pump Goes Deep with Ben Pakulski
- Mind Pump Episode 548: Ben Pakulski
- Synthol - Wikipedia
- Oil Bags: Rise of the Idiots | T Nation
- Dinosaur Training: Lost Secrets of Strength and Development – Book by Brooks D Kubik