Episodes

There’s been a myth circulating for a long time that after your contest prep phase for a bodybuilding show, or after a hard fat loss phase in general, THAT is when you’re most primed to experience your highest rate of building muscle. And logically, it kinda makes sense. The problem with bodybuilding is that logic and the human body often have a disconnect, and this is one of those cases. If you cut HARD, you’re primed to do ANYTHING but grow once that phase is done. In this episode of The Drop...

Being in Oregon to visit family, it seemed like a great opportunity to get some fresh faces on here as I shamelessly exploit my family’s lack of bodybuilding knowledge for podcast material. And as one might expect, that ‘lack of knowledge’ can cut both ways as you’ll see here. Big thanks to my big brother Colin for humoring me and sitting down to chat on camera for a bit. Call in and leave a question! Drop me a voicemail at 865-518-6569 Check out my online course collection, available NOW! h...

Well, at long last here we are – 22 weeks of prep, 110 training sessions, mountains of cardio, 17 near flawless weeks followed by 5 that border on “train wreck”, and tomorrow is show day. I’m not kidding when I say “it’s about time” – every prep phase is full of challenges I always say, but my goal with this prep wasn’t necessarily to redefine what that meant…and yet…. It’s been a ride, now I just have to land the plane. For my first ever self-coached prep, I’m pretty happy. In this episode I d...

Bodybuilding is a funny thing…of this 22 week contest prep phase, the first 17 weeks were pretty quiet…and since then it’s been an epic mess. Right now I find myself approaching peak week and a bit behind the 8 ball and not quite ready, so let me walk you through how I’m approaching this penultimate week of prep to try and get the nose of the plane pointing back up a little bit. 0:00 – Cold open 0:51 – Welcome and get settled! 1:25 – Fixing a Broken Prep Call in and leave a question! Drop me...

Body dysmorphia, or body dysmorphic disorder, is yet another serious issue (like binge eating that we talked about last week) that disproportionately plagues bodybuilders. In today’s episode I break down (again) MY experience with dealing with this firsthand, my experience in helping clients deal with this, talk about how it comes up and what we can do about it. After that it’s listener call-in time! 0:00 – Intro 1:00 – Getting Started 2:17 – Body Dysmoprhia, issues and solutions 35:11 – Li...

Binge eating and bodybuilding go together like PB&J, sadly. It’s often thought that you can’t have one without the other, but you DEFINITELY can – I’ve managed to pull it off mostly after years of struggling with it, and today I wanted to share my journey in arriving at where I’m at now with it, in hopes that other people can find some helpful tidbits in my journey that they can apply to their own. Bonus segment afterwards: aspartame and cancer? Is there a link? What does the science say? Let’s...

Recomping is all the rage these days – dropping body fat and building muscle at the same time. Every prominent YouTube channel has videos talking about how the traditional bulk/cut methodology is outdated and doesn’t work, based on a handful of studies that assess the feasibility of recomping, with one big issue – they completely discount the practical, human elements involved. So today I dive in on why recomping is generally not a sound plan, exceptions to that, and what we should do instead. ...

Ah yes, macro tracking apps. We all use something like MyFitnessPal at some point, right? Well, maybe some of us don’t but it’s nonetheless super common. The problem is, that app is hot garbage and there are WAY better options out there. In episode 255 I explore 10 of the most popular apps and put them into 2 categories – the bin, and the contender pile. My favorite? Well, I saved the best one for last. And after that I dive in on what I’m doing for my upcoming trip to make sure my prep stays 1...

In episode 254 of The Drop Set, I’m going to talk about steroids – specifcally, the risks involved in taking anabolic compounds as they relate to bodybuilding. I’ll differentiate between “TRT” and what is more widely considered to be ‘common use’ in the landscape of competitive bodybuilding, break down exactly what the risks are, what might be overblows, and talk about things a prospective user could do in order to give themselves the best chance of minimizing their risk. In the 2nd and closing...

Welcome to episode 253! Today, we’re diving into the whole bulk or cut dilemma in bodybuilding. The key? Knowing what your body needs — more muscle or less fat. It’s not just a short-term thing; we’re talking long-haul commitment here…think years, not just weeks or months. This process can’t be about quick fixes; we’re in it for the long run. Next, we dive deep into the crucial aspect of training volume. Understanding the right training volume for you is the key to progressing over time. While ...

In episode 252 of The Drop Set, I delve into the nuanced concept of stage readiness, exploring the subjective nature of preparation for competition. We examine the importance of early competition as a means to gain valuable experience and establish personal benchmarks. I also discuss the essential prerequisites for competing, including discipline, commitment, and a positive mindset throughout the preparation process. Next, I dive deep into understanding food fixation, cravings, and appetite. We...

0:00 – Intro 0:40 – Getting Started 3:47 – Supplements: Worth It or Waste It? 26:49 – Adapting to Sickness, Missing Gym Time 43:05 – What Actually Happens on Show Day? In the opening segment of Episode 251, we dive into the world of supplements – starting with the age-old debate: Is creatine worth it? What about BCAA’s? Glutamine? Pre-workouts can be effective but often contain too many ingredients, risking adverse reactions. Testosterone boosters like DHEA may slightly elevate levels but w...

Welcome to episode TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY! In the first segment, I dive deep into strategies for busting through growth plateaus in bodybuilding. First, I emphasize the importance of consistency and dedication during the off-season or growth phases. I discuss assessing whether you’re truly at a plateau and stress the need to attack growth seasons with the same intensity as prep. I also go over a bunch of actionable steps to keep things moving, and touch on the potential role of performance-enhanc...

In this episode, we dig in on the finer points of having a successful cut, whether it’s for a contest or just a personal transformation. The final point I make here is possibly the most important: remember to have fun with it all – it’s a challenging journey, but it should still be enjoyable overall. Next, I dive into bodybuilding and its suitability for everyone. Reflecting on my experiences and conversations with clients, I explore why some people quit bodybuilding, citing reasons like loss o...

In episode 248 of The Drop Set, I delve into the intricate journey to becoming a professional bodybuilder in the USA, breaking down the processes of various amateur organizations like NPC, OCB, INBA, and INBF. From earning qualifications to competing at national levels, the road to obtaining a pro card is filled with complexities and nuances. While the quest for pro status may seem enticing, the reality of financial rewards and the influence of social media are also discussed, highlighting the m...

(3:15) In this episode of The Drop Set podcast, I can’t help but unravel the aftermath of the Arnold Classic with a heavy dose of frustration. I find myself questioning the show’s BEYOND curious choices, particularly in excluding categories like women’s physique, figure, and 212 men’s bodybuilding. With a healthy dose of skepticism, I delve into the prize money distribution, underscoring the glaring gap between the earnings of male and female competitors. Amidst my…colorful…commentary, I call ou...

I’ve had a lot of coaches myself over the past 20 years and I’ve spent the last 15 years being a coach myself, so I’ve seen every argument there is on the topic of meal plans vs. macro plans. Let’s put this to rest once and for all. Also some training and hormone management discussion! 0:00 – Intro 0:57 – Necessary evils 2:44 – Maximizing “easy on paper” workouts 17:55 – Nuking E2 on TRT 26:07 – Meal plan vs. macros – the final word! As mentioned in the macro discussion, a link to episode ...

Episode 245 marks the PERMANENT return of The Drop Set to YouTube – so if video is your thing, check it out there as well going forward. All episodes will be geared towards an audio only format so listeners here, you won’t be missing anything. No sweat! 0:00 – Intro/story time 1:57 – Technical difficulties? 5:48 – Seeking out photo comparisons of others 7:53 – Sleep dysfunction on prep 10:57 – “Advocate” coaches 14:48 – Can I compete if ______? 20:30 – Novelty as it applies to training sp...

One of the absolute most common questions I get is “when will I be ready for a show”, or “I’m 14 weeks out, will I be ready?” or some variation on the theme. My usual answer is “well, it’s complicated….” and this episode seeks to finish that sentence in 30,000 words or less. Call in and leave a question! Drop me a voicemail at 865-518-6569 Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what’s coming up next: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-qrfkpe5PYMPHhTFQMK69g Check me out on Instagram: htt...

Hey Darin, can you be rambling and borderline incoherent for 40 minutes? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. The real question: drunk or sober? Sadly, the latter. Yes, this is sober me and I still behave like this. Prep is underway, let’s talk about how it started. Also, how to mess up your macros in one easy step. Also also, the TOP SIX things you need for your kitchen RIGHT NOW. Call in and leave a question! Drop me a voicemail at 865-518-5659 Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what’s coming up n...

Autumn Cleveland has been around for a bit – with a competition history of 20+ years and a couple Olympia appearances to show for it. She has also positioned herself as an authority on posing, offering courses, direct coaching, seminars and more to help competitors more accurately present themselves on stage. And as we discuss here, she’s still always learning and aiming to step up her game and keep pace with trends and staying up on what judges are looking for TODAY. Follow Autumn on Instagram...

What makes for a good and productive growth season? Conversely, what makes for a bad one? How do we define whether it’s good or bad? What should your goals be? How much balance is too much balance? Today we dig in to all of those questions and more so let’s hit it! Call in and leave a question! Drop me a voicemail at 865-518-5659 Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what’s coming up next: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-qrfkpe5PYMPHhTFQMK69g Check me out on Instagram: https://www.i...

A little random pre-Christmas catch up on some stuff, and thankfully MUCH lighter fare than last week – and then we dive in to a topic suggested by my former client Jessica who wanted to get my take on semaglutide. I’ve talked about this before, and recently, but I wanted to dig in a bit deeper here and, in real time, kind of develop and flesh out my philosophy on how I’d recommend (or not) people use this in prep going forward. Is it useful? Harmful? Both? Is it kinda dumb, cheating, or smart s...

Rest in peace to my friend and coach Krissy Lia, you will be missed.