The Strength Log

Getting your first pull-up or chin-up is a major milestone for most people who train. But how do you go about it effectively and quickly? In today's episode, we present a plan that's been proven to work time and time again, no matter if you're a woman or a man, light or heavy. We break down the exercises that will take you towards your first pull-up, and explain why lat pulldowns and rows aren't a...

Summer vacation is coming up, and we gym rats start wondering how little strength training we can get away with without losing muscle mass and strength.  And what if we skip training altogether ?  In this episode, we cover everything you need to know about scaling back your training when traveling or spending time in a hammock. We also give you tips on practical programming when you don't have acc...

Strength training is among the best things you can do to improve your health, and that goes for both adults and children. But what kind of effects does strength training have on children who are overweight or obese? In today's episode, we're discussing a new study review looking into exactly this – and the results are encouraging! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star revi...

If you focus on feeling your muscles work while lifting , can you increase their activity and grow them faster? In bodybuilding, this concept is known as the mind-muscle connection. But is it real, and – even if it is – should you care? The mind-muscle connection is the topic of today's episode, and we have a new study on it to kick us off! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five...

Starting Strength is probably the most famous strength training program in the world, and a huge reason that barbell lifting took off 15-20 years ago. But is it really a good program for beginners in the gym ? And which claims by Mark Rippetoe in the Starting Strength book have aged badly? How would we improve Starting Strength? A listener on Spotify requested an episode about the pros and cons of...

Most of us already know that alcohol can have bad consequences for our health, but how much will a couple of drinks after a workout affect our bodies' ability to recover and build new muscle mass? And what about binge drinking? That's what we're here to find out, and in this episode, we dive headfirst into umbrella cocktails in search of answers to what alcohol does to our muscle growth, hormones,...

Can you slow your aging by eating a low-protein diet? Is protein 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 new article published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition , in order to find out what we can be basically sure about – and which claims l...

If you're training with weights close to your max versus weights that you can lift 30, 40, 50, or even 60 times, what difference does it make? In today's episode, we're looking at a study that examined exactly this. And even though we were a bit underwhelmed by the study design, it led to a great discussion! To bring you even greater value, we answer your best questions on the topic . See the time...

How do you get big arms? In this episode, we go over the exercises, the programs, and the muscles important for developing your biceps and triceps 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...

How do you lose fat without losing muscle ? In today's episode, we go over and rank the most important factors for achieving this holy grail , 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 ma...

The mean age for menopause 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 a major new study comparing strength training outcomes before and after menopause , and give you our recommendations for how to strength train wh...

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 bench , bros? 11:15 - Question 2: How would you, as big, heavy, not young...

How do you get back from injuries? Balance your strength training with a competitive sport? And what is the optimal rest time between sets? We asked for questions, and as always, you guys and gals delivered! Lots of fun stuff to talk about this week. In fact, we got so many good questions that we'll probably do a mailbag next week, too. Timestamps: 04:15 - Question 1: For fat loss, which is more e...

Does spot reduction work? Will your muscles grow faster if you confuse them? And does fasted cardio burn more fat? In today's episode, we look into a new article published in the Strength and Conditioning Journal , and discuss ten popular bodybuilding myths to see which ones can be debunked. Timestamps: 04:15 - Myth 1: Periodization is necessary to maximize muscle growth 08:15 - Myth 2: Muscle con...

In theory, it's simple: just exercise more to lose weight . In practice, that is rarely what we see happen. Why is that? In this episode, we discuss a new, really cool study that looked into one of the many ways our bodies adapt and react when we suddenly start burning more calories than we eat. There is more going on than us becoming more lazy the rest of the day, or simply compensating by eating...

Intermittent fasting is gaining popularity, promising weight loss and great health benefits. In today's episode, we talk about a new Cochrane review comparing intermittent fasting to regular dieting, to examine how the evidence actually stacks up. Is intermittent fasting all that it claims to be, or just another fad diet? And if you're fasting, how much do you need to pay attention to stuff like p...

One of the most common pieces of advice in strength training is progressive overload , 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. Times...

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 i...

When you have limited time for training , 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, we have an overview study covering di...

How much of a difference does warming up make, and how should you warm up to maximize your performance in the gym? In today's episode, we talk about two new studies: a review of different warm-up strategies and a study on how psyching up affects your deadlift one-rep max . And we end the episode by answering common questions about warm-ups, including one about stretching. But before that, we gotta...

For decades, there's been debate about and research into the so-called interference effect between cardio and strength training . In other words, are you setting yourself up to fail in the gym if you do too much cardio? In today's episode, we take a look at the current scientific picture on combining cardio and strength training. How much of an issue is it really, and how can you work around it wh...

Strength training is more and more looking like the closest thing we have to an elixir of youth . But how do you get started building muscle when you're over 60 ? 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....

Preserving your muscle mass during a weight loss diet is critical for preventing sarcopenia and maintaining metabolic health. It also means you're going to look better both clothed and naked, which is kind of sweet. So, what's the best strategy to lose mainly fat? In today's episode, we're diving headfirst into a brand-new study showing what you can do to massively increase the amount of fat you l...

Your body uses carbohydrates to power your muscles, organs, and brain. But how important is it to eat carbs before your strength workouts? That's the topic today, and we're discussing a new meta-analysis that looked at the effects of acute carbohydrate feeding on resistance exercise performance. Or, in other words, how much (or little) carbs up to an hour before your workouts can benefit you in th...

The range of motion you use when lifting can have a profound effect on your strength and muscle-building results. In today's episode, we break down a brand-new meta-analysis that compares the effects of strength training at short versus long muscle lengths. By now, we're really starting to get a clearer picture of what range of motion you should aim for most of the time – and with the help of this...