Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

MAPS Abs and Butt: https://mapsabsandbutt.com
Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Includes Butt Building Diet Guide, Women's Supplement Guide, at-home dumbbell version and a free second program at checkout (Muscle Mommy or Muscle Mommy 15).
 
In this episode the guys break down five fat loss diet myths — why feeling hungry during a cut is normal and expected (and why reframing it is the key), why no food actually burns body fat, why a calorie is not just a calorie when it comes to behavior and palatability, why neither carbs nor fat are the enemy, and why treating food as just fuel is a dysfunctional mindset that most people cannot actually live by. They also cover Sal and Adam both happening to sync up on a winter cut, Sal taking 5-amino-1MQ from MP Hormones for NAD support and fat metabolism, Adam's Oura ring readiness score data after the team pickleball tournament showing how much inflammation can hold water weight even during a perfect week of dieting, the free weights vs machines study debate between Sal and Brad Schoenfeld on X, Andy Galpin's set volume recommendations and why they do not apply to everyday people, Adam sleeping through a heat wave with a broken AC using only his Eight Sleep Pod at 85 degrees in the room, and the Woodstock 99 Limp Bizkit moment that started it all. Then they coach live callers submitted through mplivecaller.com.
 
T-Shirt Winners:
Apple Podcasts: Cinflute7
Facebook: Amanda Lee and Jerry Swab
Send name, shirt size and shipping address to: itunes@mindpumpmedia.com
 
SPONSORS
 
Eight Sleep (Pod 5 Ultra): https://eightsleep.com/mindpump
Code: MINDPUMP for up to $350 off. 
 
Vita Bella / MP Hormones: https://mphormones.com
Code: MINDPUMP365 to unlock exclusive annual membership perks. 
 
Joovv (red light therapy): https://joovv.com/mindpump
Code: MINDPUMP for $50 off first purchase. 
 
LINKS
 
Submit a live caller question: https://mplivecaller.com
Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com
Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com
Instagram: @mindpumpmedia
 
0:00 - Intro
2:37 - 5 fat loss diet myths that make losing body fat nearly impossible
5:06 - Myth 1: You should never feel hungry if you're doing it right
10:36 - Myth 2: There are fat burning foods
13:10 - Myth 3: A calorie is a calorie is a calorie
17:23 - Myth 4: Carbs or fats make you fat
21:28 - Myth 5: Food is just fuel — and why this mindset is dysfunctional
24:46 - Sal and Adam both on a winter cut — and Sal is taking 5-amino-1MQ for NAD and fat metabolism
28:33 - Adam's Oura ring readiness score after the pickleball tournament — why you can look worse holding water even on a perfect week
36:04 - Correcting the over-correction — why the worst thing to do when water is up is push harder
38:18 - Woodstock 99 — the moment Limp Bizkit broke it and why music moves culture
43:13 - Free weights vs machines study debate — Sal's response to Brad Schoenfeld on X
47:13 - Andy Galpin's set volume recommendations and why they do not apply to real people
49:37 - Adam's AC breaks during a 102-degree heat wave — sleeps through it on Eight Sleep with all covers on
58:47 - Joovv red light therapy — why it is the only red light brand that matches study wavelengths
59:50 - Caller: Susan (Missouri) — 51 years old, 22% body fat, two years with an online coach, ready to go independent, gets MAPS People and concierge option
1:09:19 - Caller: Alvin (Florida) — 64 years old, glider pilot, long distance hiker, lost ability to squat, gets MAPS Starter and creatine advice
1:20:27 - Caller: Jordan (Arizona) — 21 years old, 9.8% body fat, lost menstrual cycle, needs to reverse diet, gets coaching referral
1:33:17 - Caller: Returning caller (California) — hypermobility, single mom, gets MAPS Symmetry isometric protocol and community advice

MAPS Abs & Butt is still 40% off: ⁠https://mapsabsandbutt.com⁠
 
If your goal is a stronger, rounder butt and visible abs, this episode gives you the programming logic, the exercise selection, the rep ranges, the rest periods, and the mindset shift you need to actually make it happen.
 
In this episode:
• Rest periods are what make strength training strength training: resting two to four minutes between hard sets trains the energy system tied to muscle growth, while cutting rest short shifts you into aerobic, stamina-based work that does NOT build the butt
• A study in the Journal of Applied Physiology confirmed that heavy load versus light load matters far less than effort: sets taken close to failure build muscle regardless of whether you are using five-pound or fifty-pound dumbbells
• Progressive overload does not just mean adding weight — slowing the rep tempo, pausing at peak contraction, adding reps, or changing the angle of an exercise all challenge the body to adapt and grow without a single extra pound
• A Frontiers in Physiology study on glute growth ranked hip thrusts and deep squats at the top, followed closely by Romanian deadlifts, all of which can be done at home with dumbbells alone
• The biggest programming mistake when targeting a specific body part is stacking extra volume ON TOP of your existing program; you must reduce volume on non-priority muscles to one to two maintenance sets per week so recovery can actually happen
• Strength gains always precede visible aesthetic changes: for the first few weeks you will get stronger without much mirror feedback, but the muscle and fat loss follow reliably once the strength accumulates
• A subpar program done consistently beats a superior program done inconsistently — removing the commute and friction of a commercial gym dramatically raises the odds you actually show up
• To build the glutes while also shrinking the waist, focus on reverse dieting and building first; muscle speeds the metabolism, which makes the subsequent fat-loss phase far more effective and easier to sustain
 
Chapters:
00:23 Intro
01:23 MAPS Abs and Butt Launch
01:50 Why a Gym Is Not Required
03:19 Strength Training vs. HIIT at Home
04:57 Progressive Overload Explained
07:00 Why Rest and Heavy Loads Build Glutes
11:00 The Case for Working Out at Home
14:27 Best Exercises for Glute Growth
17:45 The Exact Training Recipe
20:00 How to Balance Volume Across the Body
20:48 Two Free Sample Workouts
22:56 Building Glutes and Losing Waist at the Same Time
 
Products:
MAPS Abs & Butt: ⁠https://mapsabsandbutt.com⁠
 
Sponsors:
Ketone-IQ: ⁠https://ketone.com/mindpump⁠
 
Mentioned:
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Referenced for his famous claim that he could make one exercise more effective than most people's entire one-hour workout.

MAPS Abs and Butt: https://mapsabsandbutt.com
Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Includes Butt Building Diet Guide, Women's Supplement Guide, at-home dumbbell version and a free second program at checkout (Muscle Mommy or Muscle Mommy 15).
 
In this episode the guys break down how to cut fat and keep muscle — covering why you need to be in a good metabolic position before you start cutting, why letting food create the deficit beats trying to burn calories through exercise, why cutting volume during a cut is counterintuitive but essential, and why increasing low-stress activity like walking is the secret sauce for getting lean without losing muscle. They also cover Adam's friend who dropped total cholesterol from 293 to 201 and LDL from 200 to 124 using Dose alongside dietary changes, a processed food study linking ultra-processed foods to hidden intramuscular fat in the thighs, the first reversal of adult obesity rates in decades and why GLP-1 is almost certainly responsible, new data showing GLP-1 improving psoriasis before weight loss even begins suggesting an independent autoimmune mechanism, Sal two and a half weeks into MAPS Anabolic for the first time in years and the strength gains already surprising him, Adam's friend Ryan DeVita finally diagnosing the pec major tear that has been baffling Adam for months, and Sal noticing a dramatic difference in digestion after running out of Seed for two weeks. Then they coach live callers submitted through mplivecaller.com.
 
Mind Pump Fitness Coaching: https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.com
1.9 NASM CEUs
 
SPONSORS
Dose for Your Liver: https://dosedaily.co/MINDPUMP35
Code: MINDPUMP35 for 35% off first month subscription. Adam's friend dropped total cholesterol from 293 to 201 and LDL from 200 to 124 — all natural liquid supplement with clinical studies behind it.
 
Seed Daily Synbiotic: https://seed.com/mindpump
Code: 25MINDPUMP for 25% off your first month. Sal ran out for two weeks and noticed a huge difference in digestion — confirms it works best as a daily consistent habit.
 
Butcher Box: https://butcherbox.com/mindpump
No code needed. Free ribeyes, NY strip steaks or filet mignons in every order for a year plus $20 off first box.
 
LINKS
Submit a live caller question: https://mplivecaller.com
Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com
Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com
Instagram: @mindpumpmedia
 
0:00 - Intro
2:18 - How to cut fat and keep muscle — why your body wants to lose muscle when you diet
8:35 - Step 1: Are you in a good metabolic position to cut from?
9:59 - Step 2: Let food create the deficit — stop leaning on exercise to burn calories
13:03 - Step 3: Lower your training volume — this is the opposite of what most people do
16:00 - Step 4: Increase low stress activity — walking is the secret sauce for getting shredded
18:18 - Step 5: Eat in ways that produce satiety — whole foods and high protein
23:31 - Adam's friend drops cholesterol from 293 to 201 using Dose and dietary changes
28:33 - Ultra-processed food study — hidden intramuscular thigh fat linked to processed food intake
33:41 - Adult obesity rates reversed for the first time in decades — GLP-1 is almost certainly responsible
42:43 - GLP-1 improving psoriasis before weight loss begins — independent autoimmune mechanism
52:51 - Sal two and a half weeks into MAPS Anabolic Phase 1 — why he is only adding 2.5 pounds at a time
57:35 - Ryan DeVita diagnoses Adam's pec major tear that has been baffling him for months
1:00:28 - Sal runs out of Seed for two weeks and notices a huge difference in digestion
1:04:15 - Caller: Kyle (British Columbia) — returning caller, 6 pounds of lean mass in 90 days, gets MAPS Upper Lower and Powerlift package
1:19:01 - Caller: Justin (California) — law enforcement, 3-4 night shifts a week, 4-5 hours sleep, gets MAPS 15 and sleep strategy
1:31:07 - Caller: Casey (North Carolina) — returning caller, Hashimoto's, gluten-free 90 days, no scale change but all markers improved

MAPS Abs and Butt: https://mapsabsandbutt.com
Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Includes Butt Building Diet Guide, Women's Supplement Guide, at-home dumbbell version and a free second program at checkout (Muscle Mommy or Muscle Mommy 15).
In this episode the guys break down seven easy food swaps that lower calories, bump protein and still taste great — protein snacks over carb snacks (Crisp Power honey mustard), high-protein Greek yogurt desserts with cocoa whip and berries, shelled nuts instead of pre-shelled roasted ones, grass-fed beef over grain-fed (200-calorie difference in a 12oz ribeye), two lettuce-wrapped burgers instead of a burger and fries, crustless pizza in an iron skillet, and spaghetti squash instead of pasta. They also do a deep dive into Gen Z male depression and anxiety data — why this is the first generation doing worse than midlife adults in mental health metrics, and what the data says actually helps: lifting weights (50% reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms), going to church (33% lower odds of developing depression), and getting a job (95% higher mental health risk when unemployed). They also cover the new FDA-approved myostatin inhibiting drug, bone broth protein for people with high-protein digestion issues, and the anti-protein influencer backlash. Then they answer questions from Instagram.
SPONSORS
Crisp Power (honey mustard protein pretzels): https://www.crisppower.com/mindpump
Code: MINDPUMP for 10% off. Honey mustard flavor discussed on air — 25-28g protein per bag, high fiber, zero added sugar.
Paleo Valley (bone broth protein): https://paleovalley.com/mindpump
15% off automatically applied at checkout. Bone broth protein discussed on air — easiest to digest protein the guys have used, chocolate flavor tastes like a chocolate donut.
Fatty15 (C15 essential fatty acid): https://fatty15.com/MINDPUMP
Code: MINDPUMP for additional 15% off 90-day Starter Kit. First new essential fatty acid discovered in over 90 years. 3x more cellular benefits than omega-3.
LINKS
Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com
Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com
Instagram: @mindpumpmedia
0:00 - 7 food swaps for better results — eat this not that
0:00 - Swap 1: Carb snacks for protein snacks — why Crisp Power honey mustard kills cravings
5:35 - Swap 2: Desserts — Greek yogurt whipped cream, cocoa whip rice cakes and protein balls
9:16 - Swap 3: Shelled nuts instead of pre-shelled roasted ones
11:15 - Swap 4: Grass-fed for grain-fed beef — 200 fewer calories in a 12oz ribeye
13:20 - Swap 5: Two lettuce-wrapped burgers instead of a burger and fries
16:01 - Swap 6: Crustless pizza in an iron skillet
17:17 - Swap 7: Spaghetti squash instead of pasta
21:05 - Gen Z male depression data — first generation doing worse than midlife adults
22:55 - Lifting weights reduces depression symptoms by 50%
30:17 - Church attendance reduces depression odds 33%
31:35 - Getting a job — 95% higher mental health risk when unemployed
36:15 - Music and pain tolerance — eye of the tiger experiment and the metal festival study
44:07 - Bone broth protein for people who struggle with high protein digestion
47:26 - Myostatin inhibiting drug just got FDA approval
55:21 - Q&A: How to figure out your average calorie burn for muscle building
58:33 - Q&A: How long should I be in maintenance before cutting after a reverse diet
59:53 - Q&A: Steroids vs. peptides — what is the difference?
1:03:48 - Q&A: How to avoid the yo-yo of progressive overload injuries and crippling soreness

MAPS Abs and Butt: https://mapsabsandbutt.com
Code: LAUNCH for 40% off. Includes Butt Building Diet Guide, Women's Supplement Guide, at-home dumbbell version and a free second program at checkout (Muscle Mommy or Muscle Mommy 15).
Dr. Stephen Cabral returns to break down the seven blood markers that predict heart disease better than cholesterol. He explains what each one means, what optimal ranges look like versus what standard lab ranges say, and how to improve each one through diet, exercise and targeted supplementation. He then reveals the guys' individual omega-6 to omega-3 inflammation test results live on air — comparing where they were two years ago to where they are now and why Doug is the clear winner. They also cover the cyclosporiasis parasite outbreak in lettuce, natural parasite treatment protocols, PDE5 inhibitors for cardiovascular health, why glucose monitors are overused in athletic populations, and whether rancid fish oil is a real problem and how to avoid it.
50% Off Inflammation Test https://stephencabral.com/inflammation 
 
SPONSORS
 Zbiotics Pre-Alcohol: https://zbiotics.com/MINDPUMP26
Code: MINDPUMP26 for 15% off first purchase. World's first genetically engineered probiotic. Breaks down acetaldehyde in the gut before it causes next-day issues.
 
GUEST LINKS
Dr. Stephen Cabral: https://stephencabral.com
Inflammation test: https://stephencabral.com/inflammation
 
LINKS
Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com
Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com
Instagram: @mindpumpmedia
 
0:00 - Intro
3:03 - 7 blood markers that predict heart disease better than cholesterol
4:38 - Marker 1: ApoB — the most important predictor of arterial plaque that all cardiologists now look at
8:12 - Marker 2: High sensitivity CRP — how chronic inflammation embeds cholesterol into arterial tissue
10:05 - Marker 3: Homocysteine — methylation issues, optimal range and the B vitamin fix
12:30 - Marker 4: Total cholesterol to HDL ratio — why a 3 to 1 ratio is the target
14:57 - Marker 5: Triglycerides to HDL ratio — the metabolic disease predictor most doctors ignore
20:13 - Marker 6: Hemoglobin A1C — why athletes with spiking glucose still have perfect A1C
25:03 - Marker 7: Omega-6 to omega-3 ratio — 90% cardiovascular death risk reduction above 9% saturation
30:49 - The guys' live omega inflammation test results — two years of data revealed
35:08 - Adam's result — dropped from 7.3 to 6.0 without supplementing
36:23 - Sal's result — improved from 7.8 to 4.9 with sardines and omegas
37:55 - Doug's result — already at 3.7 and winning the whole room
43:18 - How to choose a quality fish oil — cold processed, third party tested, no mercury
46:28 - When to take vitamin D vs omega-3 and why timing matters
48:01 - Cyclosporiasis parasite outbreak and natural parasite treatment protocols
52:12 - Dr. Cabral's free at-home inflammation test — how to get it