The Drop Set with Darin Starr: Bodybuilding for the Masses

Today’s topics:  Gym OCD and how it’s either A) ruining your workouts, B) holding you back, C) driving you crazy, or D) all of the above.  Also, what makes a good bodybuilder?  I answer the “what makes a good client” question which is essentially the same thing!

This week I get into the weeds a bit on my personal experience with both ketosis and intermittent fasting.  Not a lot of clinical/research data here, but more of a practical perspective based on the biases I had before trying them out and my thoughts after giving each a spin.

It drives me insane that social media is nothing more than a highlight reel – for many reasons, most of all because of the distorted perception it creates of bodybuilding for those just starting out.  I rant and rave about that this week as well as diving into my general philosophy for peak week and covering the ins & outs and the good and the bad of the stretch reflex, as well as plenty...

Long overdue, but finally a guest appearance from someone and your chance to hear a voice other than mine!  Main topics today include 2 age-old debates:  free weights vs. machines, and bulking styles:  clean vs. dirty!

Stepping things up a bit this week!  Production values through the roof!  Extra-long episode!  Feedback welcome as always – this week the primary segments discuss workout variable tracking:  what matters, what doesn’t, and why, and also revisiting proper use of the scale for tracking progress – including some real world numbers that I step through and explain.  New poll on the we...

We all hit a funk from time to time – as I recorded this episode today, I happen to be in the middle of one myself!  How does it manifest itself, how do you recognize it, and what – at the end of the day – should you do about it?  Also, alcohol and bodybuilding:  a question that answers itself, or is there more nuance involved?  If you know me at all, you know the answer there&#8...

After missing last week, I’m back with a new poll question and a rundown of my crazy weekend before diving into the topics du jour:  a primer on “Reverse Dieting” (when it’s appropriate and when it’s unnecessary), and a discussion on the perils of overthinking the details at the expense of…well, listen and find out!

C’mon, get up, get down with the sickness!  Oh wait, no – let’s not.  Today I talk about what to expect when you DO get sick (tip:  you’re NOT losing all your gains), how to minimize the impacts of illness and getting back into the routine.  Also:  balancing bodybuilding and life can be hard, but there are things you can do to help.  Finally, continued from last week &#8211...

Ever wanted to be a bit more like the Ultimate Warrior but didn’t know where to start?  Occlusion bands might be the answer!  Do these things actually work and are they worth playing around with?  I dive into that as well as explaining how the NPC judging standards creep and evolve over time and why that is a HORRIBLE thing for bodybuilding in general.

Hallelujah, we’re BACK IN STEREO!  In this episode I talk DOMS (muscle soreness), SARM’s (why/why not and who should/shouldn’t) and also go over the relevance (or lack thereof) of 1 rep max numbers in bodybuilding.  Also, a few new segments that will be recurring in future weeks!

Often times when a client finally picks a show they’re overcome with a moment of panic when they start thinking about all of the stuff NOT related to their diet and training that has to get done prior to a show.  Rest assured – there’s a lot to do but it’s VERY manageable.  In this episode I break it down into a categories and chronology.  Also:  do low and super high rep r...

Arthur Jones was the founder of Nautilus and had some pretty groundbreaking ideas on high intensity training (lifting – not to be confused with HIIT cardio).  In this episode I talk about what’s good (and not so good) with his protocol and with skill-based lifting programs generally.  Also, genetics and bodybuilding:  how important are they, what do they influence, and why should we ca...

In the second episode of 2018 I break new ground and talk a bit about myself!  Specifically, my own personal story about how I got into bodybuilding and what actually helped pull me into it.  We all have our own story, so I figured it only fair to share mine!  Also:  if you’re a natural bodybuilder, is it worth considering competing in a show that isn’t drug-tested?  The answer may sur...

Happy 2018!  Today we’re going over how to design a split, or workout rotation.  Common mistakes, things to avoid, and how to approach drawing one up for yourself if that’s your plan.  Also, my top 6 bodybuilding mistakes for both beginners and advanced bodybuilders.

In this SHORT episode, I do less of a “here’s what happened all year” recap and more of a “here’s how to evaluate your year” guide, including a R.E.A.L. Talk ™ strategy you can use to guide the process.  Happy New Year! (note:  this and the past few episodes have been in mono, I am aware of the issue and working on a fix.  Blame Windows 10 driver updates).

We’ve talked about macros here before, but it’s a hot topic and worth revisiting!  In this episode I discuss the pros & cons, the how-to’s, the details, the strategy, and the common pitfalls of macro tracking and flexible dieting.

I get a lot of inquiries from people who are interested in a training program but NOT necessarily contest prep – here I discuss the particulars of how my philosophy changes based on someone’s goal, and you can apply some of this to your own programming as well if that describes you.  Also, my ideas on how to fix a horribly broken judging system at bodybuilding shows.  There’s an...

Time to get super nerdy as I breakdown unit costs on common protein sources to decide finally what IS cheapest and what IS expensive as hell – with some bonus buying tips included.  Also, why do you need an off-season?  Hint:  you definitely do!

Episode 31, and finally it’s time to discuss – DRUGS. These play a *huge* part in bodybuilding, whether you take them or not it’s clear that anabolic steroids have a large role in shaping the bodybuilding landscape. I cover the basics here – what’s what, things to watch out for and consider before taking the plunge yourself. Note: nothing in this video should be consi...

Episode 30 is here!  No live broadcast, just audio and video available on YouTube also.  Today, I recap NPC Nationals from this past weekend with commentary and also go over coaching philosophies – I share mine and offer some alternative insights into diet and training as well.

In this episode I talk about the what, when, how, and why of protein intake, also going over various sources – what’s good, what’s not, and everything in between.  Also, a fun and (somewhat) light-hearted discussion on gym etiquette!

In this episode of the Drop Set I talk about what is on EVERYONE’S mind this time of year – managing your diet with the holidays! Also, a little random workout-related Q&A!

In this episode of the Drop Set I talk about the financial side of bodybuilding – how you CAN and CAN’T make money in this industry, and the expenses of competing.  Also, go on a tour of my gym bag and see what I find in there that I had forgotten all about.  Oops!

The scale *is* a valuable tool for tracking your progress – IF you use it correctly.  Listen to learn how.  Also:  you’re a lousy photographer and THAT is why your progress pics suck.  In this episode we discuss how to get better, quickly!

Let’s be clear:  bodybuilding can be really quite basic.  OR, it can be SUPER complicated.  In this episode of The Drop Set I break down all the things that you might possibly need to be concerned about and divide them into tiers:  those for beginners, those for intermediate bodybuilders, and those for the advanced – not to mention the ones that aren’t worth the time until you&#8...