weight loss Archives

Mass Mantra #27

Here’s a quote from one of our favorite Instagram posters, Dr. James DiNicolantonio (@drjamesdinic): [Read more…]

Simple Fat-Loss “Secret”

Okay, it’s not really a secret; it’s common sense that many trainees overlook when they’re trying to get ripped…

It’s meth—kidding! It’s carb cycling, a tactic that’s worked well for me… [Read more…]

Mass Mantra #8

Now that we’re in the first month of 2023, many of us are starting to plan our fat-loss strategies to whittle away our holiday blubber for spring and summer…

Here’s a great quote from Dr. James Di Nicolantonio on that subject—why protein helps with fat loss… [Read more…]

Fat-Loss Tips (from Dr. J.D.), Part 1

It’s winter holiday time, not when we usually think about fat loss. But it’s good to have it in the back of our minds so we don’t overindulge.

I allow myself an ab-shrouding layer, but not so much that it will be hard to shed come the new year. Struggling to button your pants is unacceptable, but no need to maintain this look… [Read more…]

Bulking for New Muscle Mass?

Q: I see lots of bodybuilders on the Internet bulking up in the winter and then cutting in the spring and summer. Some get downright fat in the winter. Is that a good plan to add extra muscle?

A: In my 45 years of training, I’ve done it more than a few times. And every time I felt as though I did gain more muscle—but quickly lost any extra mass during the cutting phase… [Read more…]

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 164: Frank Zane’s Meditation Muscle

Frank Zane looked aesthetic even when he was meditating. Here he is, in contest-diet mode, trying to manifest the ability to unhinge his jaw when a dessert cart rolls by… [Read more…]

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 106: Frank Zane’s Perfect Beach Physique

Frank Zane’s physique is still considered near perfection today. Who wouldn’t want a beach physique like this? [Read more…]

Q: I need to lose 20 pounds. I’ve gained a bit of a gut during this interesting year, and I have a goal to lose it in two to three months. If I succeed, I should look pretty good for spring and summer. Is that possible? What’s the number-one thing I should do to get it going? I’m stoked to see abs, so I’ll starve if I have to.

A: Well, the first thing you should NOT do is starve by making a huge calorie cut. That’s the big mistake most people make due to excessive motivation and/or impatience. A giant calorie reduction all at once sends your body into starvation mode. That preserves fat and burns muscle tissue—which then slows down your metabolism to a crawl. Not what you want… [Read more…]

3 Fat-to-Muscle Secrets to Get You Leaner and Bigger

Q: I always get fat over the winter. Outdoor cardio is hard to do, and I hate the treadmill. Plus, I tend to miss workouts. Three days a week is about all I can handle. Should I just do that and try to starve myself more often to stay closer to lean shape?

A: The good news is, you don’t have to do cardio to burn fat; you just have to use a few key fat-to-muscle tactics, the first of which is doing some muscle damage. [Read more…]

Interval Cardio to Burn More Fat

Q: I’ve heard it brought up a few times by others recently, and I remember from your old daily training blog that you guys sometimes use interval cardio to burn more fat. What is that and how should I use it?

A: There are surprising facts about using interval cardio to burn more fat, but before we get to those, let’s explain interval cardio on a running track. To do interval training, you sprint the straightaways all out and walk the curves. Another good example is running stairs—you run up for intensity and coast down. In other words, you alternate high-intensity bursts with lower-intensity activity.
[Read more…]