The Strength Log

Learn about strength training, fitness, weightlifting and health from the Strength Log podcast. Your hosts, Daniel Richter and Philip Wildenstam, are two Swedes with decades of experience in the gym, as well as reading and translating science into understandable insights for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of how to reach their fitness goals. To support the show, download the StrengthLog workout tracker app for free from Apple's App Store or Google Play today!

If Building Muscle Is Easy, Why Is Everyone Stuck? 07/13/2026

If Building Muscle Is Easy, Why Is Everyone Stuck? Summer mailbag time, and you guys and gals sent us a bunch of great questions once again! The first one deals with the hidden gap between fitness science and real life: If research shows that building muscle is easy, why isn’t every person you see at the gym jacked? We spent a good deal of time on that one before moving on to four more questions; see the timestamps below. We’ll be back next week with the second part of this mailbag, answering another handful of questions. Timestamps: 04:00 - Question 1: It seems to me that many of the studies you discuss show that it's easier to gain muscle and strength than what is commonly believed. This clashes a bit with my real-life experience, where I see the same people (more or less) at the gym, seemingly not progressing much. Why this dichotomy? 19:15 - Question 2: I've started doing the due to time constraints, as I believe it’s a good exercise for both the shoulders and the chest. But will it instead mean that neither of them gets enough training? Is it better to choose either or instead? 24:45 - Question 3: You guys do an amazing job with StrengthLog, this podcast, and the community. Top quality in everything. What are the main challenges you face in keeping this up? Especially when there are f***ing annoying people like me? 30:00 - Question 4: What do you think are the most under-trained muscles or muscle groups, and why? Should programming best practices include coverage for these muscles, and can it be done without very specialized equipment? 39:30 - Question 5: I'd like to know your origin story! How did you meet? What made you decide to make your app/company? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/41571265

The Road to Your First Pull-Up 07/06/2026

Vacation Training: How Little Can You Get Away With? 06/29/2026

Can Strength Training Help Overweight Kids? 06/22/2026

Is the Mind-Muscle Connection Real? 06/15/2026

Pros & Cons of Starting Strength 06/08/2026

How Bad Is Alcohol for Your Gains? 06/01/2026

Protein Myths & Truths 05/25/2026

Protein Myths & Truths Can you slow your aging by eating a low-protein diet? Is really more satiating than fat and carbs? And does an upper level of safe protein intake exist? In this episode, we discuss the evidence behind eight common protein claims, aided by a , in order to find out what we can be basically sure about – and which claims lack science to support them. Timestamps: 03:00 - Presentation of today’s topic: Protein myths and truths 04:30 - Protein proposition 1: Optimal protein intake per meal is crucial for muscle growth, with upper and lower limits that affect muscle mass. 08:45 - Protein proposition 2: Higher protein intake preserves lean mass and muscle strength during weight loss. 12:00 - Protein proposition 3: Protein is the most satiating of the macronutrients and helps to reduce energy intake. 16:00 - Protein proposition 4: An appropriate protein intake can slow aging and promote longevity. 21:45 - Protein proposition 5: The theory of protein leverage, meaning that we eat until we've covered our protein needs, and that a higher-protein diet will make you consume less total energy. 24:15 - Protein proposition 6: Dietary protein benefits can be optimized equally and effectively with plant and animal proteins. 28:45 - Protein proposition 7: There is a threshold above which too much protein can be detrimental to health. 33:15 - Protein proposition 8: Protein and chrononutrition: timing of protein intake can affect health *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/41393700

How Good Are 30-Rep Sets for Muscle & Strength? 05/18/2026

How to Get Big Arms 05/11/2026

How to Get Big Arms How do you get big arms? In this episode, we go over the exercises, the programs, and the muscles important for developing your and into big guns. To help guide us, we asked for your questions on the topic of arm training – and you guys and gals delivered once again! In total, we answer seven arm-specific questions; see the timestamps below. Timestamps: 09:45 - Today’s topic: How to get big arms – muscles worked, exercise selections, sets and reps, and more. 29:30 - Question 1: Are supinated lat pull-downs a good or great way to build biceps? 37:30 - Question 2: Are compound exercises enough for big arms? 42:30 - Question 3: What's a reasonable growth to expect from following a good arm routine for someone who's not a beginner? 47:15 - Question 4: I thought it was as easy as "as long as you bend your elbow, your biceps are working." But people on social media are talking about wrist angles and different grip widths, as if a 2 cm wider grip on the bar would make you an Arnold-contestant, while your current grip only activates your glutes or something. How much does it actually matter? 50:00 - Question 5: How does 'long-limbed' bloke get them to grow (or at least show more shape and width from the front, especially). Yes, yes, we know there are different muscles to train. But some of us are a shape that doesn't seem to respond, or at least doesn’t show easily visually. 54:45 - Question 6: Any good ideas on how to avoid elbow pain and other issues with tendons and such on a high volume/intensity arm-focused program? 57:45 - Question 7: Should you dedicate one day or several days weekly to arms? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/41215285

How to Lose Fat without Losing Muscle (Step-by-Step) 05/04/2026

How to Lose Fat without Losing Muscle (Step-by-Step) How do you ? In today's episode, we go over and rank the most important factors for achieving , and present you with our step-by-step guide to help you focus on what truly matters. After that, we answer a bunch of your questions on the topic of fat loss and strength training. Timestamps: 04:00 - Today’s topic: How to lose fat without losing muscle mass 30:30 - Question 1: Which is more harmful to the muscles when losing weight, a big caloric deficit or a lack of training? 32:15 - Question 2: How do I know if I'm losing fat and not muscle, with or without a scale? 36:30 - Question 3: Do I need to modify my strength training volume and/or intensity when trying to lose fat? 42:15 - Question 4: How should I split my calories when losing fat while still maintaining as much muscle mass as possible? I'm currently getting 40% of my calories from carbs, 30% from fat, and 30% from protein. Any suggestions? 46:15 - Question 5: How does fat loss and muscle gain change with age? Being 49 and a late starter in strength training, it seems hard to gain or retain muscle without also getting a bigger belly. 51:30 - Question 6: Could you talk about Lyle McDonald’s rapid fat loss stuff. Seems brutal but efficient. 56:30 - Question 7: I'm currently undergoing a 3-month fat-loss phase with a daily caloric deficit of around 500 kcal. Is it a good idea to take a one-week diet break in the middle, to regain some strength in the gym, and then go back to a caloric deficit? I feel like my recovery and progression take a really bad hit during my cut. *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/41073380

Strength Training Before and After Menopause 04/27/2026

Strength Training Before and After Menopause The mean age for is 50, but some women enter perimenopause at 40 or even earlier. What do the hormonal changes of menopause mean for your strength training results, muscle mass, body fat levels, and quality of life? In this episode, we discuss , and give you our recommendations for how to strength train when affected by menopause. After that, we dive headfirst into your topic-related questions, including one about strength training through the different stages of the menstrual cycle! Timestamps: 00:00 - Today’s topic: Strength training before and after menopause. 18:30 - Question 1: According to my own study (myself vs guys I meet at the gym), I'm clearly stronger on reps than my 1RM suggests, while all guys I meet seem to be stronger on singles than reps. Is it just me being stubborn as a donkey and a coward when it gets heavy, or is it a real male/female difference? 21:45 - Question 2: I wonder what the science says about sex differences when it comes to relative progress? For the bench press, guys who started later than I did are progressing much faster, while I stay stuck at 2.5 kg plates. I understand that there are tons of individual factors at play, but it feels like a pattern, and I’m getting frustrated. 24:45 - Question 3: Is it true that higher reps and lower weights become less effective after menopause, compared to lower reps with heavier weights? 28:00 - Question 4: Not a question about menopause, but what about pregnancy: can you strength train pretty much like usual if you feel alright? 31:00 - Question 5: What about women who lift really heavy weights and ? Why does it happen, and is it more common than people think? 37:30 - Question 6: What does recent research say about strength training and strength levels during the different phases of the ? And how do female sex hormones affect strength and recovery? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/41002135

Mailbag! The Ultimate Back Workout, and More 04/20/2026

Mailbag! The Ultimate Back Workout, and More How do you combine Brazilian jiu-jitsu with strength training? What does the ultimate back workout look like? And how much do we bench, bro? We’re back with another mailbag, thanks to you sending us so many great questions a week ago! See the timestamps below for all questions. Timestamps: 06:30 - Question 1: How much do you , bros? 11:15 - Question 2: How would you, as big, heavy, not young men, go about running a half-marathon? 17:40 - Question 3: How do I ? 22:45 - Question 4: Construct the ultimate back workout with a maximum of 5 exercises. Deadlifts are trained on a separate day. 28:00 - Question 5: What are your favorite features in the StrengthLog workout tracker app? 38:30 - Question 6: Tips for a 30+ years old strongman looking to keep competing past 40? 45:50 - Question 7: What are your thoughts on isometric holds above 1RM for strength gains? 49:45 - Question 8: Deadlifting in lifting shoes with a raised heel, is it beneficial or just personal preference? 53:00 - Question 9: My sister is starting her journey with strength training now. What can she look forward to in the following weeks if she sticks to your program ""? 58:10 - Question 10: I am a forest worker, a very physically demanding job. I have little time and energy after work, but I want to build muscle and become stronger. What kind of exercise/program/split would you recommend for me? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/40908845

Mailbag! How to Handle Injuries, Bulking, and More 04/13/2026

Debunking 10 Popular Bodybuilding Myths 04/06/2026

The Problem with Exercise for Weight Loss 03/30/2026

Does Intermittent Fasting Boost Fat Loss? 03/23/2026

How Important is Progressive Overload for Muscle Growth? 03/16/2026

How Important is Progressive Overload for Muscle Growth? One of the most common pieces of advice in strength training is , most commonly in the form of gradually increasing the weights as you get stronger. But how big a difference does it actually make for your muscle growth? That's what a new study sought to investigate, and that’s our main topic today. We end the episode with two listener questions; see the timestamps below. Timestamps: 00:00 - Philip’s lower leg injury and the death of a walking streak. 11:00 - The study on progressive overload and muscle growth. 37:15 - Listener question: One thing I've been thinking about more and more is how important technique and angles are when training. If you listen to different people in bodybuilding, everyone usually has similar opinions about diet, sleep, set rest, and various performance-enhancing drugs. But even at the highest level, the approach to technique and training differs quite a bit. For me, who has been training since the 90s, it also feels like a lot of what was said back then, which has been out of fashion for quite a while, is starting to come back into fashion. I'm starting to believe that the most important thing is to train hard, activate the muscles through the lift, and train in a way that doesn't hurt you. Then, beyond that, technique feels less important than what experts say when they want to sell programs. Thoughts? 45:45 - Listener question: Is it true that he who drinks alcohol and lifts will be stronger than he who does neither? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/40423355

Let’s Party Like It’s Episode 100 03/09/2026

Let’s Party Like It’s Episode 100 Dear listener, we made it! Episode 100 is here! To celebrate the occasion, we’re doing a Q&A where we answer as many of your questions as we can in under two hours. And today, in contrast to our usual episodes, we deviate a bit more than usual from the training-related questions and include a few more personal ones (see the timestamps below). Cheers! Timestamps: 06:45 - Favorite premium features in the app; our thought process when planning workouts; what measurements to track; and is belly circumference a more useful measurement than body weight? 18:45 - How do we handle setbacks in life, and how do they affect our training? 24:00 - Why does Philip, the hedonist, not drink coffee? 27:30 - Biggest differences in gym culture across the world? Do you speak any other languages besides Swedish and English? 34:00 - Philip’s desert island wines? Daniel’s desert island books? 39:30 - Who is more likely to a) start a fight with a bear? b) win a fight against a bear? 43:45 - If you could go back in time (with all your knowledge about training and about yourselves) and train in a particular way from an early age, how would you train? 51:30 - What’s the biggest mistake modern fitness culture makes that the Golden Era of bodybuilding got right? Do you think modern lifters over-optimize details like tempo, rest times, RIR, science-based stuff, etc., at the expense of just keeping it simple, lifting heavy and intense, and simply being a monster in the gym? 57:00 - What results from a scientific study were you most surprised by? 1:03:00 - What does the science (and your experience) say about the diminishing returns of rest time between sessions? 1:08:45 - Are you considering Norwegian intervals sometime in the future? 1:15:00 - Any pet peeves when it comes to other people’s behaviour in the gym? Any tips to get past the fear of a new injury or at least live with the fear and still train? Who was the coolest 80s-90s action movie star? Arnold? Stallone? Van Damme? Kurt Russel? Chuck Norris? Dolph Lundgren? Which is your favourite "bad" eating habit? 1:22:45 - How do I dial in the volume and intensity when trying to do daily lifting? 1:27:30 - Other than strength training, are there any particular hobbies that you are passionate about? 1:40:30 - What’s your push-up PR (reps)? And the current approximate level? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/40340190

The Minimum Effective Dose for Strength Training 03/02/2026

The Minimum Effective Dose for Strength Training When you have , how little can you train and still make gains? Or, if you’re a beginner and don’t want to invest a lot of time getting started in the gym, will your efforts be worthwhile if you strength train only once weekly? In today's episode, we're talking about the minimum effective dose for strength training. To kick things off, covering different strategies for . After that, we discuss practical takeaways and our recommendations for when you’re short on time but still want to make gains or maintain the muscle mass and strength you already have! We finish the episode by answering a handful of your questions on this topic. Timestamps: 02:30 - Study breakdown: ”Resistance Exercise Minimal Dose Strategies for Increasing Muscle Strength in the General Population: an Overview.” 35:45 - Listener question 1: Give me the sweet spot for time, sets & intensity for muscle growth. Where more only adds a few gains. 39:30 - Listener question 2: For experienced lifters who've been on a bro-split for a long time, can gains still be made on a minimalistic routine? 45:45 - Listener question 3: If strength is my goal, why shouldn't I do as much as my body can handle? 50:30 - Listener question 4: When you're weak like me, every workout is minimalistic. 53:30 - Listener question 5: What do you think about same-muscle supersets, for instance squats followed by sissy squats, for time efficiency? If you want to ask a question for episode 100, ! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/40251680

Warming Up for Better Performance 02/23/2026

Combining Cardio and Strength Training 02/16/2026

Building Muscle after 60 – the Elixir of Youth 02/09/2026

Building Muscle after 60 – the Elixir of Youth Strength training is more and more looking like the closest thing we have to an . But how do you get started ? And if you're already bitten by the iron bug, are there any changes you should make or be aware of past that age? In this episode, we try to answer all of your questions on the topic (see the timestamps below) to leave no stone unturned. Timestamps: 05:00 - The benefits of strength training for people over 60. 09:15 - Intro to building muscle after 60: sarcopenia, lower hormone levels, and blunted signals for muscle growth. 15:00 - Common questions and objections: it’s too late to start, it’s dangerous, and joints hurt. 22:30 - The effects of menopause: is it game over? 28:40 - What actually changes in your body after 60? 30:20 - How do you keep your connective tissue strong and healthy so it doesn’t become a bottleneck? 31:30 - Do you need longer recovery time after heavy workouts when you're over 60? Would it be better to split your training into shorter, more frequent workouts? 33:40 - How to strength train when over 60. 38:30 - Are higher rep-ranges safer? 41:00 - Should we reduce or increase training volume and/or frequency as we age? 42:00 - Choosing the right training program. 44:20 - Eating for muscle, strength, and health: metabolism, macronutrients, and supplements. 52:00 - Will nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) impair muscle growth? 55:45 - Managing joint pain. 01:00:00 - Specific advice for women getting back into lifting after 60. 01:00:45 - For how long can people with impressive physiques maintain their muscle and strength as they age? 01:05:00 - What are the most impactful recovery methods? Most of these questions came in . You should join the conversation over there, if you haven’t already! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You’ll find Daniel at , and Philip at . Become a part of . *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download . It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with ”Train hard, eat well, die anyway”, . /episode/index/show/strengthlog/id/40018575

The Key to Losing as Much Fat as Possible 02/02/2026

Should You Load up on Carbs before the Gym? 01/26/2026

Is a Full Range of Motion Always Best? 01/19/2026

Maximal Muscle Mass in Minimum Minutes 01/12/2026

Fat Loss or Muscle Gain – Which Should You Focus on First? 01/05/2026

2025 in Review 12/29/2025

Our Cardio Experience, One Year In 12/22/2025

The Strength Log

TOPICS