How to Lose Fat without Losing Muscle (Step-by-Step)

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 mass 30:30 - Question 1: Which is more harmful to the muscles when losing weight, a big caloric deficit or a lack of training? 32:15 - Question 2: How do I know if I'm losing fat and not muscle, with or without a scale? 36:30 - Question 3: Do I need to modify my strength training volume and/or intensity when trying to lose fat? 42:15 - Question 4: How should I split my calories when losing fat while still maintaining as much muscle mass as possible? I'm currently getting 40% of my calories from carbs, 30% from fat, and 30% from protein. Any suggestions? 46:15 - Question 5: How does fat loss and muscle gain change with age? Being 49 and a late starter in strength training, it seems hard to gain or retain muscle without also getting a bigger belly. 51:30 - Question 6: Could you talk about Lyle McDonald's rapid fat loss stuff. Seems brutal but efficient. 56:30 - Question 7: I'm currently undergoing a 3-month fat-loss phase with a daily caloric deficit of around 500 kcal. Is it a good idea to take a one-week diet break in the middle, to regain some strength in the gym, and then go back to a caloric deficit? I feel like my recovery and progression take a really bad hit during my cut. *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.

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 when affected by menopause. After that, we dive headfirst into your topic-related questions, including one about strength training through the different stages of the menstrual cycle! Timestamps: 00:00 - Today's topic: Strength training before and after menopause. 18:30 - Question 1: According to my own study (myself vs guys I meet at the gym), I'm clearly stronger on reps than my 1RM suggests, while all guys I meet seem to be stronger on singles than reps. Is it just me being stubborn as a donkey and a coward when it gets heavy, or is it a real male/female difference? 21:45 - Question 2: I wonder what the science says about sex differences when it comes to relative progress? For the bench press, guys who started later than I did are progressing much faster, while I stay stuck at 2.5 kg plates. I understand that there are tons of individual factors at play, but it feels like a pattern, and I'm getting frustrated. 24:45 - Question 3: Is it true that higher reps and lower weights become less effective after menopause, compared to lower reps with heavier weights? 28:00 - Question 4: Not a question about menopause, but what about pregnancy: can you strength train pretty much like usual if you feel alright? 31:00 - Question 5: What about women who lift really heavy weights and pee themselves? Why does it happen, and is it more common than people think? 37:30 - Question 6: What does recent research say about strength training and strength levels during the different phases of the menstrual cycle? And how do female sex hormones affect strength and recovery? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.

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 men, go about running a half-marathon? 17:40 - Question 3: How do I combine Brazilian jiu-jitsu and strength training? 22:45 - Question 4: Construct the ultimate back workout with a maximum of 5 exercises. Deadlifts are trained on a separate day. 28:00 - Question 5: What are your favorite features in the StrengthLog workout tracker app? 38:30 - Question 6: Tips for a 30+ years old strongman looking to keep competing past 40? 45:50 - Question 7: What are your thoughts on isometric holds above 1RM for strength gains? 49:45 - Question 8: Deadlifting in lifting shoes with a raised heel, is it beneficial or just personal preference? 53:00 - Question 9: My sister is starting her journey with strength training now. What can she look forward to in the following weeks if she sticks to your program "Beginner Strength Training Program"? 58:10 - Question 10: I am a forest worker, a very physically demanding job. I have little time and energy after work, but I want to build muscle and become stronger. What kind of exercise/program/split would you recommend for me? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.

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 effective: sprints or 10k steps per day walking? I'm also lifting weights 5 days a week and in a caloric deficit. 10:20 - Question 2: What is the optimal rest time between sets when muscle building is the focus? 16:45 - Question 3: How do you balance strength training with competitive sports? 21:30 - Question 4: What should your macros be when bulking? 27:00 - Question 5: If I train bench press and lateral raises, do I also "have to" train shoulder presses? 31:00 - Question 6: Daniel talks about getting a leg pump. Which program or workout is best for building big legs? 34:00 - Question 7: Do you always follow programs when you work out, or do you do more random training mostly? 37:45 - Question 8: Do you ever go to the gym (or garage) together with your wives? Why? Why not? 40:45 - Question 9: How do you handle injuries? I'm referring to your thoughts, mindset, and getting back to your desired level of performance. *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.

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 confusion leads to optimal muscle growth 13:30 - Myth 3: Training to failure is required to gain muscle 18:30 - Myth 4: Cardio training will significantly harm muscle growth 23:45 - Myth 5: Lifting will make women bulky 27:45 - Myth 6: Bodybuilders need to follow strict and restrictive diets 33:00 - Myth 7: You need to eat every three hours 35:45 - Myth 8: You need to consume protein immediately after your workout 39:15 - Myth 9: You can target specific areas to lose body fat 44:00 - Myth 10: Fasted cardio burns more fat *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.

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 more calories—and these are the kind of insights we're here for! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.

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 protein timing, insulin levels, and when you strength train? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.

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. Timestamps: 00:00 - Philip's lower leg injury and the death of a walking streak. 11:00 - The study on progressive overload and muscle growth. 37:15 - Listener question: One thing I've been thinking about more and more is how important technique and angles are when training. If you listen to different people in bodybuilding, everyone usually has similar opinions about diet, sleep, set rest, and various performance-enhancing drugs. But even at the highest level, the approach to technique and training differs quite a bit. For me, who has been training since the 90s, it also feels like a lot of what was said back then, which has been out of fashion for quite a while, is starting to come back into fashion. I'm starting to believe that the most important thing is to train hard, activate the muscles through the lift, and train in a way that doesn't hurt you. Then, beyond that, technique feels less important than what experts say when they want to sell programs. Thoughts? 45:45 - Listener question: Is it true that he who drinks alcohol and lifts will be stronger than he who does neither? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.

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 in the app; our thought process when planning workouts; what measurements to track; and is belly circumference a more useful measurement than body weight? 18:45 - How do we handle setbacks in life, and how do they affect our training? 24:00 - Why does Philip, the hedonist, not drink coffee? 27:30 - Biggest differences in gym culture across the world? Do you speak any other languages besides Swedish and English? 34:00 - Philip's desert island wines? Daniel's desert island books? 39:30 - Who is more likely to a) start a fight with a bear? b) win a fight against a bear? 43:45 - If you could go back in time (with all your knowledge about training and about yourselves) and train in a particular way from an early age, how would you train? 51:30 - What's the biggest mistake modern fitness culture makes that the Golden Era of bodybuilding got right?  Do you think modern lifters over-optimize details like tempo, rest times, RIR, science-based stuff, etc., at the expense of just keeping it simple, lifting heavy and intense, and simply being a monster in the gym? 57:00 - What results from a scientific study were you most surprised by? 1:03:00 - What does the science (and your experience) say about the diminishing returns of rest time between sessions? 1:08:45 - Are you considering Norwegian intervals sometime in the future? 1:15:00 - Any pet peeves when it comes to other people's behaviour in the gym? Any tips to get past the fear of a new injury or at least live with the fear and still train? Who was the coolest 80s-90s action movie star? Arnold? Stallone? Van Damme? Kurt Russel? Chuck Norris? Dolph Lundgren? Which is your favourite "bad" eating habit? 1:22:45 - How do I dial in the volume and intensity when trying to do daily lifting? 1:27:30 - Other than strength training, are there any particular hobbies that you are passionate about? 1:40:30 - What's your push-up PR (reps)? And the current approximate level? *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.

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 different strategies for minimalist strength training. After that, we discuss practical takeaways and our recommendations for when you're short on time but still want to make gains or maintain the muscle mass and strength you already have! We finish the episode by answering a handful of your questions on this topic. Timestamps: 02:30 - Study breakdown: "Resistance Exercise Minimal Dose Strategies for Increasing Muscle Strength in the General Population: an Overview." 35:45 - Listener question 1: Give me the sweet spot for time, sets & intensity for muscle growth. Where more only adds a few gains. 39:30 - Listener question 2: For experienced lifters who've been on a bro-split for a long time, can gains still be made on a minimalistic routine? 45:45 - Listener question 3: If strength is my goal, why shouldn't I do as much as my body can handle? 50:30 - Listener question 4: When you're weak like me, every workout is minimalistic. 53:30 - Listener question 5: What do you think about same-muscle supersets, for instance squats followed by sissy squats, for time efficiency? If you want to ask a question for episode 100, here's our thread on Reddit for that! *** Do you like what you hear so far? Please leave a five-star review in your podcast player. And hit that follow button! You can also follow us on Instagram. You'll find Daniel at @strengthdan, and Philip at @philipwildenstam. Become a part of our Reddit community here. *** This podcast is brought to you by Styrkelabbet AB, Sweden. To support us, download the world's best gym workout tracker app StrengthLog here. It's completely ad-free and the most generous fitness app on the market, giving you access to unlimited workout logging, lots of workouts and training programs, and much, much more even if you stay a free user for life. If you want a t-shirt with "Train hard, eat well, die anyway", check out our shop here.