3D Muscle Journey

For some this question will come as a total shock. For others, it will align with very similar thoughts and concerns they've had themselves. In today's episode, Andrea, Brad and Alberto discuss the "lifestyle" as well as the division of bodybuilding. While it's quite clear that the bodybuilding "lifestyle" is growing, what is happening to [...]

One of the biggest misnomers in the fitness community today, is that IIFYM or "If it fits your macros" is synonymous with the term "flexible dieting". While tracking macros can be a form of flexible dieting, this isn't always the case. In today's episode, Andrea, Eric and Alberto discuss the current state of nutrition within [...]

In this week's episode, Andrea, Brad and Jeff discuss the pros and cons to training at home. Both Brad and Jeff are high-level athletes who utilize the efficiency of having a home-gym, to balance their life demands with serving their athletic goals. Each coach describes in detail, the equipment, size, and location of their home-gym. [...]

In this week's episode, Andrea sits down with Jeff and Alberto to discuss their current contest-preps. The group go back and forth comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences, between the two protocols. Topics covered include: Nutrition, Training, Cardio, Competition Schedules, Body-Weights, Predicted Peak-Week Strategies, and more. Along with discussing the technicalities of their...

Why would a coach hire a coach? This concept may sound a little strange at first, however if you think about it, the rational is quite sound. People who hire coaches do so, because they want to get better themselves. Even if they have the knowledge and skills, having a coach to consult with, and [...]

Nutrition is supportive. If your goal is to build-muscle and get stronger, it doesn't matter how "perfect" your nutrition is, or how much protein you eat, your potential for muscle-growth will be limited. A properly designed training program is essential. In today's episode, Eric, Andrea and Jeff discuss all of the variables which play a [...]

Ever wondered about the "behind the scenes" operations of 3D Muscle Journey? In today's episode, Andrea, Brad and Alberto talk about the various communication methods they use to best support their athletes. Topics include: What information is collected prior to working with a new athlete, how their weekly coaching system works, and the rationale and [...]

How would you define a mini-cut? If someone asked you what the purpose of a mini-cut was, what would you say? In today's episode, Eric, Andrea and Alberto answer these questions, and more. The coaches cover pretty much anything you could ever want to know about mini-cuts: Should they be slow or aggressive? What is [...]

In this week's episode, Andrea, Brad and Jeff sit down to talk about the initial stages of a bodybuilding career. Topics addressed, include: Issues with wanting to complete before having enough training experience, learning the "tools" while you aren't in a deficit, letting go of "the number", having realistic expectations, and the importance of patience. [...]

In today's episode, Andrea and Eric are joined by Steve Taylor, the team 3DMJ Registered Dietitian. Eric interviews Steve on a variety of topics related to the field of dietetics. These include: What the process is like for becoming an RD. What sets an RD apart from a "nutritionist". And how Steve has found his [...]

After a full month of traveling, the 3DMJ coaches are back with another Q&A session. This week, Andrea, Alberto and Jeff sit down to answer five subscriber asked questions, regarding: – Deloading guidelines – Minimizing sleep disturbances while dieting – How to determine which division is best for you – Low self-esteem and bodybuilding – [...]

In this week's episode, Eric, Alberto and Andrea sit down together to answer an array of 3DMJ subscriber asked questions. Do we need to worry about setting a leucine target when dieting? What has made the coaches stay natural, in-light of the high prevalence of drug usage in the sport of bodybuilding? What are the [...]

It's easy to read the quote, it's much harder to actually live the philosophy. In today's episode, Jeff, Andrea and Brad discuss each of their own personal philosophies, and how these philosophies have lead them to pursue their passion, rather than take the "safer" route. In especially great detail, the group discuss Andrea, whose addition [...]

What does it mean to be "evidence-based"? What else besides research reviews, meta-analysis and individual studies, fall into this category? Once we have the evidence, how should we go about actually applying it? It today's podcast, Eric, Andrea and Alberto talk about the up and coming era of evidence-based bodybuilding, within the natural community. Although [...]

"Success is in the details." As a high-level athlete, the details matter. Not all of them, but some. Some details matter a lot, and others not so much. But which ones? In today's podcast, Brad, Andrea and Alberto go over just this. What details/variables actually matter when it comes to "getting the most out of [...]

The way in which we identify ourselves is the way we behave, derive our sense of self-worth, and spend the majority of our time and focus on. Identifying ourselves as an athlete can be very beneficial, however, if it is the only "hat" we wear, and if our identity is centered solely around our awards, [...]

Regardless of how it's done, contest prep dieting is tough. We're hungry, tired, stressed and at some point, even loading up the bar becomes a struggle. With all of that said, there are still ways to help mitigate our drops in performance, loss of sleep, and progressively increasing hunger levels. How? Well that is exactly [...]

Tracking training progress comes about as close to watching paint dry or the grass grow as it gets for advanced lifters. Something that starts off as so much fun during our early lifting days, progressively tapers to something that we have to squint, and turn our heads to the side, to even kind of see. [...]

Program hopping. This is one of those things that many of us aren't even aware could be hurting our "gains". We are so used to seeing the latest 8-week program offered on bodybuilding.com, that's easy to think that this is what training is all about, drastically changing up your routine, every 8 to 12 weeks. [...]

Although traveling while dieting isn't ideal, it's not always avoidable. This week Eric, Andrea and Alberto sit down to talk about things one can do while traveling, to help them stay on track with their protocol. The group further subdivides this topic into three main categories: those who have a lot of weight to lose, [...]

Welcome back to part 2 of our Coach Influences Series. This week, Andrea sits down with Jeff and Alberto to go through the people, and icons, who helped shape who they are today. Who was Alberto's and Jeff's FIRST influence? Which famous and highly successful athlete, did Alberto get his extraordinary work ethic from? At [...]

Join us this week for part one of our 3DMJ Coach Influences Series. Today's episode begins a two-part series on the figures, mentors, and major influencers in each of the 3DMJ coach's lives. This week, Andrea is joined by Brad and Eric, to discuss who their childhood heroes were, who they first looked up to [...]

Unlike many other sports, bodybuilding is something one can not only compete competitively in, but arguably peak at, well into their 40's and sometimes 50's. In today's podcast, Andrea Valdez sits down with Brad Loomis and Jeff Alberts, to discuss what it's like training and bodybuilding at the age of 45, compared to years prior. [...]

In the world of bodybuilding, what does it mean to be "natural"? In today's episode, Andrea, Eric and Alberto, sit down together to discuss what it means to be drug-free, and why each of them chose this path. What is the typical drug-free timespan required by most natural organizations? What is the group's stance on [...]

"What is the optimal way, to use both science and experience, to get results for you or your client." These words, quoted from coach Eric Helms, do a great job of summarizing today's podcast. Andrea, Eric, and Jeff, sit down together this week to focus on the notion that, it's not science vs. experience, but [...]