The coaches discuss the pros and cons of training with machines versus free weights, what they prefer, and how the value of specific machines differs depending on what stage of your lifting career you are in. How did the coaches view and utilize machines when they first started lifting? What are the downsides of starting with free weights? Which squat pattern does Brian think puts on the most muscle? Why does training to failure on a machine-based squat pattern often feel less demanding than training to failure on a barbell-based squat pattern? What are commonly underdeveloped muscles on those who only train with machines and how to prevent those muscles from becoming underdeveloped? Why aren’t all machines created equal? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode.

Timestamps

0:00- How the coaches viewed and utilized machines when they first started lifting

11:33- The argument against free weights & The argument against machines

35:27- The cost of biasing a muscle when performing a compound exercise

40:24- Learning how to use machines to work around injuries

46:09- The value of specific machines for intermediate versus advanced lifters

51:11- The coaches’ top free-weight highlights from their lifting careers

1:02:39- Some of the coaches’ favorite machines

Selected Links From This Episode

Coaching By Team 3DMJ- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Monthly Applications In Strength Sport (MASS)- https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/mass

Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪

GET COACHING AND COURSES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj

Brad, Eric, and Alberto answer seven audience-supplied nutrition and training questions. What are good strategies for hitting your protein goal if you’re in a gaining phase and your appetite is making it difficult for you to eat enough? Is it possible to grow your glutes without significantly growing your quads or hamstrings? At what point should you end a bulk? Is it possible to gain muscle eating at maintenance? Is it possible to gain muscle eating in a deficit? How do the coaches track their training when doing lengthened partials and drop sets? What is the best way to eat and track when you’re in situations where precise tracking isn’t possible? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode.

Timestamps

0:00- Introduction

1:12- Strategies for hitting your protein goal in a gaining phase if your appetite is making it difficult for you to eat enough

11:11- Is it possible to grow your glutes without significantly growing your quads or hamstrings?

18:51- At what point do you pull the plug on a bulk? Is it based on a specific body fat percentage or do you wait until gym performance stalls out?

36:33- How do the coaches track their training when doing lengthened partials and drop sets?

46:25- Strategies for breaking through a plateau on an exercise & What to do if you get very strong on an exercise and start to become intimidated by the weight

56:50- What is the best way to eat and track when you’re in situations where precise tracking isn’t possible?

Selected Links From This Episode

Coaching By Team 3DMJ- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nutrition For Hypertrophy And Strength (Online Course)- https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/nutrition

Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪

GET COACHING AND COURSES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj

Brad, Alberto, and Brian discuss how common drugs and alcohol can negatively interfere with your bodybuilding goals and what you can do to minimize their negative effects. What are Brad’s experiences with smoking weed and nicotine? What does Brian’s and Alberto’s relationship with and use of nicotine look like? Would Alberto say quitting drinking has been worth it? Can someone drink alcohol and still get shredded? Does a small amount of alcohol provide any health benefits? How can you consume alcohol and still stay on track with your goals? What are the pros of recreational drugs and alcohol? How does marijuana use affect progress? When are good times to get off caffeine/preworkouts? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode.

Timestamps

0:00- Introduction

1:23- Brad’s experiences with smoking weed and nicotine

5:10- Brian’s and Alberto’s relationship with and use of nicotine

11:34- Alcohol

17:28- How to consume alcohol while still staying on track with your goals

28:40- Myths about alcohol

35:10- How marijuana use affects progress

40:58- Caffeine & Preworkouts

55:07- Be careful what you take!

1:02:26- Final thoughts

Selected Links From This Episode

Coaching By Team 3DMJ- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

3DMJ Podcast Episode #249: The Hidden Risks of Supplements- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dxRo582uhM

Monthly Applications In Strength Sport (MASS)- https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/mass

Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪

GET COACHING AND COURSES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj