The Boostcamp Podcast

In this interview, I ask Fazlifts about bodybuilding vs powerlifting, his popular workout programs, training advice for beginner/intermediate/advanced, bulking and cutting tips, and other spicy topics like metabolic damage and most overrated exercises.Fazlifts is a fitness YouTuber (15K+ subscribers) and online coach with 25 years of experiencing competing in bodybuilding and powerlifting. Find Faz's workout programs on the Boostcamp app. Sign up with code FAZLIFTS to get 2 free weeks on his premium programs.Timestamps:00:55 What got Faz into lifting?05:35 Bodybuilding or powerlifting for beginners?08:00 How should beginners train?11:00 Barbarian vs The Wizard programs12:40 Full body split vs upper lower split14:15 Volume required for beginer, intermediate, advanced19:27 How to get past intermediate lifter plateau?22:45 Old school fundamentals vs Science-based training?26:10 Biggest scam right now in fitness?28:00 Shoulder bodybuilders avoid the Big 3?29:55 Protein requirement for muscle growth32:40 Does protein quality or timing matter?35:00 How important is calorie surplus for intermediates?42:50 Is metabolic damage real?46:00 Is thyroid damage real?48:05 How does metabolism actually slow down?51:10 Fazlifts' Jacked Intellectual program on Boostcamp56:45 Biggest mistake lifters make on his programs59:35 How do your programs differ from GVS and BOM?Rapid fire questions:1:01:40 Your #1 chest exercise?1:02:40 Your #1 back exercise?1:03:15 Your #1 shoulder exercise?1:04:05 FKM: barbells, dumbbells, machines?1:05:05 Most underrated exercise?1:06:20 Most overrated exercise?1:08:08 What have you changed your opinion on?1:10:00 Your favorite gym PR of all time?1:11:25 Your favorite pump up song?1:11:50 Where to find Fazlifts?

In this interview, I asked Bryan Boorstein, a prolific hybrid athlete who does bodybuilding, crossfit, and cardio. This episode is for lifters who want to take cardio more seriously. Timestamps: 01:05 Bryan Boorstein background 03:05 Can you lift 5 days and do cardio 5 days a week? 03:58 Why Brian does periodized training for cardio vs lifting 07:10 50/50 training vs periodized training 12:30 What is hybrid training? What is a hybrid athlete? 16:00 Does cardio benefit your lifting? 18:07 - Cardio’s impact on recovery and work capacity 20:45 How to start hybrid training? 27:50 What is zone 2 cardio? 31:55 Does cardio kill your gains? 34:40 How to do hybrid training during a cut (calorie deficit)? 37:00 How should someone eat while starting hybrid training? 38:50 What is the biggest mistake when starting hybrid training? 41:30 What is your proudest accomplisment in fitness? 43:20 Is Crossfit the ultimate hybrid training? 45:00 Motivating self-talk during tough workouts 48:30 What is the biggest broscience that you believe in? 54:30 Where to find Bryan Boorstein?

In this interview, I asked Dr. Eric Helms about how a powerlifter can transition to bodybuilding. This episode is for lifters who have been primarily doing strength training, but now want to look more aesthetic and build muscle. Is Starting Strength good for building muscle? How should powerlifters change their training? Lagging muscle groups for powerlifters? Favorite bodybuilding exercises? Is soreness an indicator of progress? Can you build muscle while losing fat? Timestamps: 0:00 Eric Helms bio and coaching experience 11:36 History of powerlifting & bodybuilding 20:30 2010s recommendations: Starting Strength, 5x5, Madcow, 5/3/1 29:50 Should beginners still do Starting Strength? 55:15 How can intermediate powerlifters transition to bodybuilding? 1:00:30 What are common lagging muscles in powerlifters? 1:05:17 Actually training failure, shortened and lengthened positions? 1:20:04 Is soreness a good indicator of muscle growth? 1:24:39 Most effective exercises for lats, biceps, and calves? 1:33:36 Can a powerlifter build muscle while cutting? 1:42:45 Where to find Eric?

Cody Lefever (aka GZCL) has established a cultish following for his training programs, coaching, and extensiveness of free resources on his blog (Swole at Every Height) and the Reddit community. You can find Cody's GZCL Program and Jacked & Tan 2.0 for free on Boostcamp. https://www.boostcamp.app/cody-lefever/gzcl-program-gzclp https://www.boostcamp.app/cody-lefever/jacked-tan-2-0 Podcast timestamps: 0:00 Cody Lefever (GZCL) intro 3:00 How does it feel to be a popular program creator? 6:40 Will there be a GZCL Program 2.0? 9:30 How is GZCL Program 2.0 different? 13:40 The brilliance of GZCL Program 16:40 Program roadmap from new lifter to advanced 21:10 High volume trend? 23:00 The 3 principles of progress 26:15 What are the 3 biggest lessons you learned past 5 years? 26:30 Lesson 1: work capacity 30:20 Lesson 2: training variables 36:20 Lesson 3: rest days 47:50 What is it like lifting at high altitudes? 58:20 What’s it like running a gym? 1:03:20 Why strength training is important for everyone 1:09:10 How should older people (50+) start strength training? 1:15:00 Where to find Cody?

Bryce Lewis, a distinguished powerlifter and four-time national champion, has set records in both the USAPL and IPF. Renowned for his expertise, Bryce is passionate about sharing his skills and knowledge through The Strength Athlete (TSA) powerlifting coaching services. In our comprehensive discussion, we focus on the quintessential exercise: the deadlift. Bryce offers his insights on various aspects, including the differences between conventional and sumo deadlifts, their application in powerlifting versus bodybuilding, the safety of back rounding, and the nuances of deadlift techniques such as stance width, toe angle, shin angle, and belt positioning. Additionally, he addresses overcoming deadlift plateaus, effective deadlift programming, and cultivating the right mindset for setting new personal records. You can find Bryce's FREE beginner and intermediate programs on the Boostcamp App. https://www.boostcamp.app/bryce-lewis...https://www.boostcamp.app/bryce-lewis...https://www.boostcamp.app/bryce-lewis... Podcast Timestamps: 00:23 Bryce introduction 02:21 How does bodybuilding training play into powerlifting? 04:30 Deadlift for powerlifters vs bodybuilders 08:21 Is sumo cheating? Do you see rules changing? 12:14 How to determine your optimal stance? 18:40 Will training sumo make you better at conventional? Vice versa? 22:56 Difference in technique from beginner vs intermediates? 24:45 Is back rounding safe? How to round back to deadlift more? 32:42 Deadlift every day experiment 37:45 Stance width. Narrow or wide? 43:30 Toe angle. Straight or angled? 45:30 shin angle. Forward or vertical? 46:45 Belt position. Low or high? 48:50 Bracing. At top or bottom? 52:35 Full Stop or Touch and Go? 56:50 How to overcome deadlift plateaus? 1:03:00 Bryce Lewis free powerlifting program 1:03:50 How does bodyweight changes affect deadlift? 1:07:25 Does squat improve deadlift strength? Deadlift specialist? 1:10:45 Bryce’s mindset when attempting a deadlift PR 1:15:35 Bryce’s most memorable deadlift 1:17:00 Positive vs negative mindset for deadlift PR 1:22:00 How to find Bryce

Alex Bromley is a YouTube fitness educator with over 150,000 subscribers. He is a 18 year veteran in strength sports, having competed in over 50 Strongman contests and placing 5th at World's Strongest Man. In this wide ranging discussion, we talk to Alex about his journey as a YouTube creator, the technological future of weight training, programming advice for new lifters, his thoughts on different programs, internal and external motivation for extreme winners, getting into "the zone", being a choke artist during competitions, and his takes on fads like functional training, saunas & ice baths, and maingaining. You can find Alex's FREE training programs on the Boostcamp App: https://boostcamp.me/3LmlBQD - KONG: Savage Size in 12 Weeks - 70s Powerlifter - Bullmastiff - Fullsterkur Strongman Program Podcast Timestamps: 00:00 Who is Alex Bromley 04:26 What is your YouTuber journey to 150K+ subs? 10:44 How much work goes into making a video? 14:22 YouTube channel goal for next 5 years 17:37 How to find the best programs for YOU? 24:50 Technological future of strength training 32:47 What makes a good or bad workout program? 39:05 One year programming advice for new lifters 46:05 Is Starting Strength still good? 49:50 Is Sheiko or Bulgarian method right for anyone? 52:53 Kids swim camps in China 56:54 Internal and external motivation 1:01:58 Alex's spiritual gym experience 1:07:06 Getting in the zone for peak performance 1:09:25 Being a choke artist in competitions 1:16:20 Good or Fad: "Functional" strength/bodybuilding 1:19:00 Good or Fad: Saunas & ice baths 1:22:30 Good or Fad: Maingaining 1:20:00 How to find Alex

Today, we interview Geoffrey Verity Schofield, one of the most popular natural bodybuilding educators on the internet. His YouTube channel has over 120,000 subscribers and is growing quickly. You can find Geoff on YouTube at @GVS and his books on his website at verityfit.com. His training programs are also available for FREE on Boostcamp, the lasting gym training app you'll ever need. Timestamp 0:00 - Who is GVS? 2:30 - What’s it like being a jacked white guy in China? 11:35 - Dealing with negative YouTube comments and haters 15:20 - Why do you do bodybuilding? 19:30 - How to stop feeling small? 21:45 - How to develop a healthier mindset? 27:23 - Advice for young names 29:40 - Thoughts on MorePlatesMoreDates, low T, and TRT 35:00 - Advice for intermediate lifters 44:20 - Bulking and fat gain? 51:25 - Cutting advice (how fast, what to measure) 54:30 - Mini cut vs longer cut cycles? 59:55 - Coaching vs doing a pre-made program? 1:06:45 - Controversial fitness opinion 1:07:35 - Training BEYOND FAILURE 1:14:38 - The mental game of training to failure 1:20:05 - How to train hard without getting injured 1:23:15 - How to find Geoff and his books

Today we interview Dr. Eric Helms about the what, why, how of workout programs, particularly from a beginner's perspective.  On Boostcamp App, you can find Eric's free novice and intermediate bodybuilding program templates from the Muscle and Strength Pyramid books. Timestamps 1:10 – Who is Eric Helms? 8:23 – What is a workout program? 14:55 – How to find the best program for you? 28:05 – What is progressive overload? 34:45 – Beginner vs advanced programs 39:05 – How should beginners measure progress? 46:07 – Are you a beginner or intermediate lifter? 52:38 – Does strength matter for muscle gain? 58:10 – Program hopping...When and how? 1:05:22 – How to deload? 1:09:20 – How to modify a workout program? 1:16:00 – How to find Eric Helms? Eric Helms Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/helms3dmj Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj Coaching:  https://www.3dmusclejourney.com Books: https://muscleandstrengthpyramids.com  Boostcamp App The best lifting app ever made Eric Helms novice and intermediate programs available Download for free on iOS and Android Website: https://www.boostcamp.app/ For any questions, please email: [email protected]

Greg Nuckols is a powerlifter, strength coach and writer based in Raleigh North, NC. Greg publishes the MASS research review, where he and some of his colleagues sift through all of the new exercise and sports science publications every month and synthesizes the best content for coaches and athletes. He has held three all-time world records in powerlifting in 2 different weight classes. He has trained hundreds of athletes and regular folks both online and in-person. He has partnered with us to create a beginner gym strength program, where he integrates all of his scientific knowledge and on the ground experience to help people build muscle effectively and safely over the long-term. You can find Greg’s program for free on the Boostcamp app on iOS and Android.

Morit Summers is a plus size athlete and trainer that has defied fitness industry expectations and demonstrated excellence in her own training and coaching.  She began her career as a trainer at Equinox and became the #1 trainer at her Equinox location in Brooklyn. She has since founded Form Fitness, her own personal training studio located in Brooklyn and has trained several celebrities including Ashley Graham and Danielle Brooks. Morit is a big believer in body positivity and helping people of all shapes and sizes improve their health, strength and confidence. We have partnered with Morit to create the “Fit at Every Size” home workout program, which you can find for free, exclusively on the Boostcamp app.