Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews

Is the high-bar squat more effective than the front squat for targeting your quads? Or does the front squat beat the high-bar back squat? What does research say about these variations of the squat and how they affect muscle activation? I’ve written and recorded a lot of evidence-based content over the years on just about everything you can imagine related to building muscle, losing fat, and gettin...

In this podcast, I interview Jose, who used the information he learned through my articles, podcasts, and my book Muscle For Life, to finally overcome his bingeing and purging eating disorder, start losing weight the right way, and get healthy and fit. In fact, Jose successfully lost 120 pounds while getting stronger and reversing several conditions, including pre-diabetes and high blood pressure....

What’s wrong with slow cutting? If you’re low on protein, but already hit your calorie target, should you stop eating? How can you prevent muscle loss while on vacation? Should you lift your head off the bench while pressing? What’s the most effective type of cardio for sports? All that and more in this Q&A podcast. This podcast is a Q&A, but it’s a bit different from the kind you’ll typic...

Many people want to know how we can get a better world. I want to know how we can deserve a better world. And I know that starts with giving far more to others than we take. More consideration. More service. More love. Because the person who lives on the emotion and effort of others–the sponge, the freeloader, the deadbeat–is really a consumer of human life, no better than a cannibal or parasite....

Does aging cause weight gain? Can you train glutes (or any muscle group) every day? What are my secrets to a happy marriage? How do I handle sleepless nights? All that and more in this Q&A podcast. This podcast is a Q&A, but it’s a bit different from the kind you’ll typically find here on Muscle For Life. In my usual Q&A episodes, I take a question from email or Instagram and then full...

In this podcast, I’m interviewing Legion Athlete Zach Coen all about meal planning and meal prepping. I don’t mean the basics like figuring out your calories or macros, but planning out delicious meals and practical tips on making healthy foods tastier and easier to prepare. In case you’re not familiar with Zach, he’s a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who shares recipes, educational nutrition co...

All of the following is based on the studies I’m covering in this podcast: Want to live longer? Walk more. Want to boost your mood, energy, and mental acuity? Get extra sleep. Want to perform better in the gym? Take betaine. Want to retain your muscle while losing fat? Don’t follow the OMAD diet. Want to improve your agility and sports performance? Go with unilateral exercises over bilateral ones....

Most people think cardio is the best type of exercise for losing weight. While it’s true that cardio can help you lose fat and that you should do cardio for its health benefits, strength training is often unfairly criticized as ineffective when it comes to losing weight. For example, many people say strength training doesn’t burn enough calories to matter, which isn’t exactly true. Others say that...

In this installment of the Best of Muscle For Life, you’ll hear hand-picked morsels from three popular MFL episodes: an interview with Maria who got fit while raising three kids and how she stays fit in her 50s, a monologue on whether you should still do cardio if you lift weights, and a motivational piece called “In Filth It Will Be Found.” Some people—my favorite people—listen to most or even al...

I’m often asked about Olympic weightlifting. Specifically, I’m asked about lifts like the clean and jerk, snatch, and power clean, and how to incorporate them into a more general strength training or even bodybuilding program. Should you even include Olympic-style lifts? What are the benefits of Olympic weightlifting? Can it increase your power, speed, explosiveness, and athleticism? Is it dangero...

There's no shame in admitting that at least 50% of the reason you exercise is that you have a “complicated” relationship with carbs or a sweet tooth and don't want to get fat. Or that you literally can’t afford to gain weight because then you’d have to buy a new wardrobe. Or that you want a good excuse to buy a new one. No matter how zany your reasons may seem to others, if you can use them to fir...

What is “ancestral eating” and is it a healthy way to eat? Should we be eating the same foods our ancient ancestors did? I’ve written and recorded a lot of evidence-based content over the years on just about everything you can imagine related to building muscle, losing fat, and getting healthy. I’ve also worked with thousands of men and women of all ages and circumstances and helped them get into...

Many people get started on their nutrition journeys being told they need to eliminate certain foods, or even entire food groups. In turn, this can cause guilt when you do stray from “the one true diet” and you can end up creating an unhealthy relationship with food, or worse, full-blown disordered eating.  If you’re familiar with my work, you know that you can lose weight and achieve your goals wi...

How much alcohol can you drink while cutting and still lose weight? Should you still train if your HRV score says to rest? How long should you rest between sets during a deload? All that and more in this Q&A podcast. This podcast is a Q&A, but it’s a bit different from the kind you’ll typically find here on Muscle For Life. In my usual Q&A episodes, I take a question from email or Inst...

I’m going to give you the TLDR for the latest studies on topics like cardio’s effects on muscle and strength gain, body recomposition, pre-workout meals, how creatine affects cognition, and how browsing social media can make you weaker. This podcast is another installment in my Research Roundup series of episodes, where I give you concise and practical takeaways from studies that I think are inter...

In this episode, I’m analyzing trends in the fitness industry and peering into the crystal ball with Joe Vennare to speculate on the future of health and wellness. Joe is a great guest to interview about these topics because he’s the co-founder of Fitt Insider, a platform that offers industry news and analysis of the business side of fitness and wellness. Specifically, Fitt Insider helps industry...

Naivety can be bliss. Remember when you discovered just how many calories are in a tablespoon of peanut butter and how small or proper tablespoon really is? Or the moment you realized that losing “only” one pound per week is actually a win? Or that you still have to watch your calories and macros when you’re bulking or you just get fat? Listen to hear more (funny) fitness disappointments in this p...

Is TRT getting too trendy? How do I manage my work and time as a parent of young kids? How can you stay in a calorie deficit while going to social dinners? Can keto optimize your hormones? All that and more in this Q&A podcast. This podcast is a Q&A, but it’s a bit different from the kind you’ll typically find here on Muscle For Life. In my usual Q&A episodes, I take a question from em...

If you’ve ever wondered what effects the menstrual cycle has on fitness, and how you can take advantage of your monthly cycle when it comes to body composition and training, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’ve wondered for yourself, for your significant other, or even just a friend or client, this is something many people have asked about. How can you work around your menstrual cycle, a...

What does a weightlifting belt do and how do you use one? Should you use one and on what exercises? How do you wear one correctly and what should you look for when picking a belt? All that and more in this podcast. Some people claim that a weightlifting belt is essential for avoiding injury—almost like wearing a seatbelt in the car. Other people though, they say that the safety benefits are comple...

Should you be doing full-body workouts? What habits will not only help you lose body fat, but keep it off for good? What can we learn from Elon Musk? Some people—my favorite people—listen to most or even all of my podcasts, but my wizbang analytics tell me that while many listeners tune in on a regular basis, they don’t catch every installment of Muscle for Life and thus miss out on insights that...

This podcast is going to get dark. And graphic. This episode is a cautionary tale of just how grim it can get in the throes of disordered eating, anorexia, and mental illness. But it’s also a tale of hope, because my guest Jake tells his story of how he came out the other side of his eating disorder with a newfound respect for his fitness, and a far healthier body and mind to show for it. Before f...

Do glute activation exercises actually work? Is the 5:2 diet worse for muscle retention than a continuous calorie deficit? Does vitamin D supplementation protect you against injury? Can blood flow restriction training help you gain muscle just as effectively as traditional training? I’m going to give you the TLDR for the latest studies on these topics. This podcast is another installment in my Res...

Do cold showers do anything? How long does it take to reach your genetic muscle potential? Should you count the calories from vegetables? How many sets should you do for your arms? All that and more in this Q&A podcast. This podcast is a Q&A, but it’s a bit different from the kind you’ll typically find here on Muscle For Life. In my usual Q&A episodes, I take a question from email or I...

What’s the best way to build a beach-ready, bikini body? What are the most important muscle groups to train, and how can you organize your workout split to ensure you’ll reach your goal as quickly as possible? Holly Baxter explains how to achieve a developed, lean physique in this podcast. Most women aren’t planning to ever step on stage as part of a bikini or physique competition. However, some v...