Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, Doug Egge
  • 4.8 (12K)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Daily

MindPump exposes the RAW TRUTH about health, fitness, nutrition and more... Hosts Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer & Justin Andrews pull back the curtain on the mythology, snake oil and pseudo-science that pervades the fitness industry and present science-backed solutions that result in increased muscular development and performance while simultaneously emphasizing health. No fitness institution or fitness "truth" is safe from their quick wit and over 40 years of combined experience in the fitness industry. Produced by Doug Egge. Find Mind Pump and the Mind Pump hosts on Instragram @mindpumpmedia, @mindpumpsal, @mindpumpadam, @mindpumpjustin & @mindpumpdoug and at mindpumppodcast.com. Get expertly programmed Mind Pump training protocols at mapsfitnessproducts.com

  1. 2d ago

    2975: How to Get Below 10% Body Fat as Fast as Possible (The Exact Formula)

    My Maps Program: https://mymapsprogram.com $297 for a fully customized MAPS program. Answer 20 questions, get a program built for your specific goals and equipment, plus a 1-on-1 call with a trainer to review it.   In this episode the guys break down the exact strategy to get from lean to sub-10% body fat as fast as possible. They cover why the deficit has to be dogmatic and consistent once you get below 10%, how to use carb cycling to preserve your sanity and your pumps, why steps are the most underrated fat loss tool and why adding more intense workouts is counterproductive at this stage, how to make peace with hunger that gets louder the leaner you get, why boring meals actually help you eat less, which supplements make a real difference for muscle preservation (EAAs, creatine and whey), why you should cut your training volume in half and play defense with lifting, why sleep becomes exponentially more important the leaner you get, and why cardio should be saved as a last resort for the final week or two — not used throughout. Justin is out sick so this is Sal and Adam only.   SPONSORS Seed Daily Synbiotic: https://seed.com/mindpump Code: 25MINDPUMP for 25% off your first month.   LINKS Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com Instagram: @mindpumpmedia   0:00 - Intro 2:19 - Getting from lean to shredded — why below 10% is a completely different challenge 5:20 - Step 1: The deficit must be consistent and dogmatic — no cheating your way through this 8:19 - Step 2: Carb cycling for the mental part — why it works and how to structure it 15:41 - Step 3: Steps steps and more steps — why walking beats adding more workouts 20:04 - Step 4: Get friendly with hunger — it is going to be there and you have to make peace with it 24:20 - Step 5: Tricks for cravings — gum, seltzer, LMNT, boring meals and avoiding hyper palatable foods 29:42 - Step 6: Supplements for muscle maintenance — EAAs, creatine and whey 32:21 - Step 7: Play defense with lifting — cut volume in half and stop chasing gains 37:21 - Step 8: Sleep is non-negotiable — one bad night wrecks your cravings and recovery 39:36 - Step 9: When and how to use cardio — save it as the last resort for the final week or two

  2. 4d ago

    2974: How to Get Strong as Fast as Possible

    MAPS 15 BOGO: https://maps15bogo.com Buy any MAPS 15 program get a second one free. Choose from MAPS 15 Minutes, Symmetry, Strong, Powerlift, Performance, Muscle Mommy and Forty Plus. Lifetime access, no subscription, 30-day money back guarantee. In this episode the guys break down exactly how to get strong as fast as possible — why strength is one of the best investments you can make in your health and longevity, why lifting heavy is non-negotiable, why stopping short of failure is the key to sustainable progress, why fewer exercises done with more sets beats the other way around, why eating a lot is mandatory not optional, and why nine hours of sleep is the most underrated strength tool available. They also cover Butcher Box's grass-fed tri tip and why it has become a staple in the guys' meal prep, Adam's ongoing reverse diet update and the results he is seeing, new data on testosterone and its underappreciated role in women's health, Legion's egg protein and how it stacks up, and the guy who lives in the bookmark section of Instagram — the person everyone saves but never actually follows.   SPONSORS Legion (egg protein): https://buylegion.com/mindpump Code: MINDPUMP — new customers buy one get one 50% off, returning customers get 20% cash back.   Butcher Box: https://butcherbox.com/mindpump No code needed. Choose NY strips or filet mignons for a year, or chicken breasts for life.   LINKS Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com Instagram: @mindpumpmedia   2:33 Why Strength (Not Just Muscle) Drives Longevity 11:07 Never Train to Failure for Strength 14:20 The Strength-Building Programming Blueprint 16:11 Focus on Big Compound Lifts 17:58 Eating for Strength: Calorie Surplus and Protein First 20:25 Sleep and the Central Nervous System 22:35 Grass-Fed Tri Tip: A Low-Effort Calorie Hack 30:01 Adam's Reverse Diet and Tracking Confessions 49:38 Testosterone and Money: What They Really Do to You 1:00:02 Caller Nadia: From Eating Disorder to Female Strength Community 1:02:27 Caller Valerie: When to Stop Chasing PRs 1:41:49 Caller Caitlin: Undereating, No Cycle, and the Road Back   Products: MAPS 15 BOGO Funnel — https://maps15bogo.com/ MAPS Upper Lower — https://mapsupperlower.com MAPS Powerlift — https://www.mindpumpmedia.com/maps-powerlift MAPS Muscle Mommy — https://mindpumpproducts.com/muscle-mommy MAPS Symmetry — https://www.mindpumpmedia.com/maps-symmetry MAPS Performance — https://mapsperformance.com MAPS Anabolic Advanced — https://www.mindpumpmedia.com/maps-anabolic-advanced MAPS 15 Strong — https://maps15strong.com/ MAPS 40+ — https://www.mindpumpmedia.com/maps-40 MAPS 15 Symmetry — https://15symmetry.com/ MAPS 15 Powerlift — https://15powerlift.com/ MAPS 15 Minutes — https://www.mindpumpmedia.com/maps-15-minutes MAPS 15 Performance — https://www.mindpumpmedia.com/maps-15-performance MAPS Strong — https://www.mindpumpmedia.com/mfp-maps-strong Concierge Coaching — https://mindpumpconcierge.com/ Elite Trainer Academy: Standard — https://www.skool.com/ MAPS RGB Bundle — https://www.mindpumpmedia.com/mfp-rgb-bundle

  3. 5d ago

    2973: Full Body vs Split, Low Reps vs High Reps and Every Other Fitness Debate Settled

    MAPS 15 BOGO: https://maps15bogo.com Buy any MAPS 15 program get a second one free. Choose from MAPS 15 Minutes, Symmetry, Strong, Powerlift, Performance, Muscle Mommy and Forty Plus. Lifetime access, no subscription, 30-day money back guarantee. In this episode the guys break down the classic fitness this-or-that debates — cardio before or after lifting for fat loss, fasted vs non-fasted training, small vs big meals, low rep vs high rep, fast reps vs slow reps, and full body vs split programs. They also get into Paleovalley's new pumpkin bone broth, Crocs and the ongoing footwear debate, what happens to female competitors' hair during prep, new data on PDE5 inhibitors and cardiovascular longevity, how positive vs negative thought patterns physically change neural pathways, Sal using Ketone IQ during his cut to extend his energy window, and the Porsche Experience driving event. Then they answer questions from Instagram on keeping the same routine for a year, whether a calorie surplus is needed above 20% body fat, transitioning from box squats to back squats with knee pain, and myo-reps and how to use them correctly. SPONSORS Paleo Valley (pumpkin bone broth): https://paleovalley.com/mindpump 15% off automatically applied at checkout. Ketone IQ: https://ketone.com/MINDPUMP 30% off subscription orders plus a free gift with your second shipment. Also available at CVS — $5 off your first 6-pack for a limited time. Fatty15 (C15 essential fatty acid): https://fatty15.com/MINDPUMP Code: MINDPUMP for additional 15% off 90-day Starter Kit. LINKS Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com Instagram: @mindpumpmedia 0:00 intro 2:39 Cardio before or after lifting 5:58 Meal frequency debate 12:20 Low reps vs. high reps 13:32 Slow reps vs. fast reps 16:29 Full body vs. split training 30:41 Cialis longevity and health data 34:58 Neuroscience of negative vs. positive thoughts 57:49 Q&A: Can a beginner run the same program for a year 59:19 Q&A: Do you need a surplus above 20% body fat 1:01:49 Q&A: Box squats to back squats, ankle mobility fix 1:03:27 Q&A: Myoreps and intensity techniques

  4. 6d ago

    2972: The Lonely Chapter — Why Growing Up Feels So Isolating (And Why It Should)

    MAPS 15 BOGO: https://maps15bogo.com Buy any MAPS 15 program and get a second one free. Choose from MAPS 15 Minutes, Symmetry, Strong, Powerlift, Performance, Muscle Mommy and Forty Plus. Lifetime access, no subscription, 30-day money back guarantee.   In this episode the guys sit down with Michael Smoak — public speaker, podcaster and host of the fastest growing podcast in wellness, The Higher Up Podcast — for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation. Michael shares the full origin story: being called overweight by his best friend at 20, losing 60 pounds in ten months listening to Mind Pump, spending seven years building a knowledge base in isolation before posting his first TikTok at 26, quitting his corporate sales job after one month when the promise he made himself came true, and building to three million followers across platforms. He also opens up about the five months caring for his father as he died from a portal vein blood clot with no treatment available, recording his father's voice on a lapel mic 60 days before he passed, delivering the eulogy at 27, how his dad's death became the catalyst for his faith, how the lonely chapter is a necessary part of any man's growth, and the Purpose Progression tour he is currently running. The guys also discuss the rise of young men turning to faith at unprecedented rates, how to evolve your friend group without a formal breakup, and what purpose actually looks like in practice.   GUEST LINKS   Michael Smoak: https://www.instagram.com/higherupwellness The Higher Up Podcast: available on all major platforms The Purpose Progression Tour: https://laylo.com/laylo-higheruptour/m/wpPOi3   LINKS   Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com Instagram: @mindpumpmedia   0:00 - Intro 1:11 - Michael's origin — called overweight at 20, losing 60 pounds in ten months listening to Mind Pump 6:25 - Seven years building in isolation — from corporate sales to 3 million followers in three years 11:00 - The binge-restrict cycle, disordered eating and how he finally got out of it 15:55 - Floor goals vs ceiling goals — why minimum viable habits beat extreme protocols 20:32 - His first viral video and the fear of being perceived that almost stopped everything 26:42 - The elbow problem video and why hyperbolic content works on social media 29:00 - His father's diagnosis — the portal vein blood clot with no treatment and five months of caregiving 36:47 - Recording his father on a lapel mic 60 days before he died — every question he would ever want to ask 40:57 - Grief, ego dissolution and what his father's death taught him about faith 46:52 - How he went from atheist to Christian — Yellowstone, his father's death and surrendering in the car 52:58 - The revival of young men turning to faith and his role in it 56:44 - The lonely chapter — how to evolve your friend group without a formal breakup 59:00 - The Purpose Progression Tour — what it is, what to expect and how to find it

  5. Oct 21

    2971: AI Workout Programs and GLP-1 Are Changing the World — Here Is What to Watch Out For

    MAPS 15 BOGO: https://maps15bogo.com Buy any MAPS 15 program get a second one free. Choose from MAPS 15 Minutes, Symmetry, Strong, Powerlift, Performance, Muscle Mommy and Forty Plus. Lifetime access, no subscription, 30-day money back guarantee.   In this episode the guys break down how AI workout programs and GLP-1 use are changing the fitness world — and where the risks lie. They cover why AI can give you a better workout program than a magazine but will never be able to coach you the way a human can, why real coaching is about relationship, boundaries and human experience not just the right answers, why GLP-1 works primarily by suppressing hunger and nothing else, why using it without behavioral change is exactly like bariatric surgery where the weight eventually comes back, and the early data showing GLP effectiveness begins to wane after years of use. They also cover the wild Joovv study where participants worked out both arms and only red-lighted one — and the red-lighted arm built more muscle, Justin's flu story including the Navy-Air Force game, Adam's Disneyland observation that fit couples are everywhere now, Sal's full-on rodent infestation and how he turned it into a war game bonding moment with his five-year-old, Max's General Grievous Halloween costume at Disneyland Boogie Bash and the 40 people who stopped to compliment it, and the Dane Cook Apple documentary worth watching. Then they coach live callers submitted through mplivecaller.com.   T-Shirt Winners: Apple Podcasts: Etndixiechick Facebook: Dori Orlowski Send name, shirt size and shipping address to: itunes@mindpumpmedia.com   SPONSORS Joovv (red light therapy): https://joovv.com/mindpump Code: MINDPUMP for $50 off first purchase.   Dose for Your Liver: https://dosedaily.co/MINDPUMP Code: MINDPUMP for 35% off first month subscription.   LMNT (electrolytes): https://drinklmnt.com/MindPump Free sample pack with any purchase, no code needed.   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 2:47 - AI workout programs and GLP-1 are changing the fitness world — obesity rates are dropping for the first time in decades 10:05 - Why AI can give you the right answers but will never be able to coach you 18:29 - GLP-1 works by suppressing hunger — that is it — and why that makes it a tool not an answer 24:14 - Why GLP effectiveness wanes over years and the bariatric surgery parallel 29:29 - The Joovv red light study — one arm got red lighted, one didn't — the red-lighted arm built more muscle 33:41 - Justin's flu story — Navy-Air Force game, his son sick at the Airbnb and rallying to come back to work too soon 39:02 - Sal's rodent infestation — war mode activated, five-year-old as his partner in battle 47:19 - Adam's Disneyland observation — fit couples everywhere and the grocery store confirmation 56:28 - Max's General Grievous costume at Boogie Bash and 40 strangers stopping to compliment it 1:01:31 - Caller: Marilyn (California) — GLP-1 side effects, SIBO symptoms, gastroparesis concerns, gets gut health protocol 1:14:35 - Caller: Luke (California) — pianist, six years sober, piano teacher told him he has too much muscle, gets Old Time Strength 1:28:07 - Caller: Alan (Texas) — hypertension, hospitalized, lower back pain, shoulder pain, restless sleep, gets MAPS 15 Performance 1:44:34 - Caller: Bobby (New Jersey) — 90-day check-in, MAPS 15 worked, wants to add kettlebells, gets four-day structure

  6. Oct 19

    2970: Best Supersets for Every Muscle Group | Chest Back Shoulders Legs Arms and Core

    My Maps Program: https://mymapsprogram.com $297 for a fully customized MAPS program. Answer 20 questions, get a program built for your specific goals and equipment, plus a 1-on-1 call with a trainer to review it.   In this episode the guys break down the best supersets for every muscle group. They cover what a superset actually is, the three types (isolation to compound, compound to isolation, and heavy to explosive using post-activation potentiation), and then go through their personal favorites for chest, back, shoulders, glutes, quads, hamstrings, triceps, biceps, calves and core. Highlights include Sal's dumbbell pullover to pull-up for back, Adam's incline press to cable fly for chest, Justin's lateral raise to Viking press for shoulders, hip thrust to walking lunges for glutes, barbell squat to sissy squat for quads, conventional deadlift to seated leg curl for hamstrings, tricep pressdown to close-grip push-up for triceps, preacher curl to incline curl for biceps, and decline sit-ups to cable chops for core.   SPONSORS   Zbiotics Pre-Alcohol: https://zbiotics.com/MINDPUMP26 Code: MINDPUMP26 for 15% off first purchase.   LINKS   Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com Instagram: @mindpumpmedia   SPOTIFY TIMESTAMPS   0:00 - Intro 2:30 - What is a superset and why bodybuilders use them 4:28 - Type 1: Isolation to compound — the pre-exhaustion superset and why Sal tried it at 15 8:16 - Type 2: Compound to isolation — the traditional bodybuilding superset for maximum pump 13:14 - Type 3: Heavy to explosive — post-activation potentiation for athletes 16:50 - Best superset for chest, back and shoulders 21:57 - Best superset for glutes, quads and hamstrings 25:01 - Best superset for triceps, biceps and calves 28:50 - Best superset for core — and when to use supersets and when to stop

  7. Oct 17

    2969: Is TRT Right for You | The Real Conversation Nobody Is Having About Hormone Therapy

    My Maps Program: https://mymapsprogram.com $297 for a fully customized MAPS program. Answer 20 questions, get a program built for your specific goals and equipment, plus a 1-on-1 call with a trainer to review it.   In this episode the guys break down everything about TRT — who it is for, who it is not for, and how to use it correctly. They cover the consistent decades-long decline in testosterone levels in men, why TRT is not a miracle cure-all if your lifestyle is poor, why the best clinics require patients to exercise and watch their diet, how Adam's best friend visibly changed in just one month without even realizing it, the impact of TRT on libido and marriage, and the Viagra and divorce spike story. They also cover the Mind Pump Dads group their trainers created independently, the Patrick David piece on fathers at different ages of a child's life, Adam's 100 lessons he reads with Max every night, how his son reacts to the lesson about not trying to fit in, Sal talking to his son about why some jobs pay more than others, Seed probiotic consistency and the sleep quality connection, and how to think about AI implementation in business — where it moves the needle and where it creates expensive distractions. Then they coach live callers submitted through mplivecaller.com.   Mind Pump Fitness Coaching: https://mindpumpfitnesscoaching.com 1.9 NASM CEUs   SPONSORS MP Hormones / Vita Bella: https://mphormones.com Code: MP249 — first month includes labs, a 45-minute medical consult and testosterone replacement, Enclomiphene or B12 for $249. Minimum 3-month commitment. Available including California. Offer valid through October 31st.   Seed Daily Synbiotic: https://seed.com/mindpump Code: 25MINDPUMP for 25% off your first month.   Hiya (kids' multivitamin): https://hiyahealth.com/MINDPUMP 50% off first order, no code needed. Zero sugar, non-GMO, vegan, allergy-free, NSF certified.   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 2:36 - TRT — who it is for, who it is not for and how to use it correctly 6:52 - The decades-long decline in testosterone levels and why nobody knows exactly why 9:21 - TRT is not a miracle cure-all — why lifestyle has to come first 15:03 - Who TRT is not for — the dumpster fire analogy 17:51 - TRT and libido — why this conversation has to happen with your partner 23:19 - Adam's best friend one month in — why he looks five years younger and doesn't even know why 27:52 - The Viagra and divorce spike story 32:21 - Mind Pump Dads — the internal group the trainers built on their own 36:16 - What is a Mind Pump dad — the seven qualities Sal wrote down 40:13 - The Patrick David piece on fathers at every age of a child's life 43:00 - Adam's 100 lessons with Max and the one his son reacts to every single time 50:22 - Seed probiotic consistency and the sleep quality connection 53:16 - Why some jobs pay more than others — Sal explains supply and demand to his son 1:00:39 - AI implementation in business — where it moves the needle and where it creates expensive distractions 1:06:33 - Caller: Ben (California) — security industry, newborn coming in two weeks, shift work, chronically exhausted 1:18:08 - Caller: Isaac (Vancouver) — scoliosis, hip compression, pre-wedding cut, gets MAPS Symmetry guidance 1:27:40 - Caller: Hayden (Canada) — lawyer and hockey coach, Italian family food culture, gets MAPS 15 and whole food rules 1:43:23 - Caller: Sidney (Tennessee) — four kids including a one-year-old, deadlifts 235, feels like she is falling behind

  8. Oct 16

    2968: Why Eating Six Times a Day Works (Even Though Studies Say It Shouldn't)

    My Maps Program: https://mymapsprogram.com $297 for a fully customized MAPS program. Answer 20 questions, get a program built for your specific goals and equipment, plus a 1-on-1 call with a trainer to review it.   In this episode the guys break down why the science got it wrong on small frequent meals — they actually do work for fat loss, just not for the reasons bodybuilders claimed. The thermic effect argument is false, but the behavioral reasons are real: smaller meals keep cravings from getting out of control, they force meal prep which increases consistency, you never have to wait very long before eating again, digestion is easier especially on high protein, and hitting your protein targets becomes dramatically more achievable. They also cover Sal's Caldera Lab eye serum experience after a terrible night of sleep with the mouse situation, a deep dive on all the things they are noticing as they get older (eyesight, ears, hair), the fat and sleep connection Adam discovered when he switched from white meat to red meat and his readiness score jumped immediately, why Eight Sleep is the best single investment for health and fitness, the viral creatine study showing people gained lean mass without lifting (it's just water not muscle), and racetrack country clubs as the next big real estate trend. Then they answer questions from Instagram on knee ligament and tendon strengthening, when to increase dumbbell weight, light reps versus heavy reps close to failure, and how long to run the same program.   SPONSORS   Caldera Lab (Eye Serum): https://calderalab.com/mindpump Code: MINDPUMP for 20% off.   Eight Sleep (Pod 5 Ultra): https://eightsleep.com/mindpump Code: MINDPUMP for up to $350 off. HSA/FSA may qualify through Truemed — qualified customers save about 30% on average. Truemed is for qualified customers. HSA/FSA tax savings vary.   Our Place (non-toxic cookware): https://fromourplace.com Code: MINDPUMP for 10% off sitewide.   LINKS   Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com Instagram: @mindpumpmedia   0:00 - Intro 2:12 - The science got it wrong — why small frequent meals actually work for fat loss 7:04 - Reason 1: Cravings stay manageable when you don't wait too long between meals 11:42 - Reason 2: Small meals force meal prep which dramatically improves consistency 14:45 - Reason 3: You never have to wait very long and hunger signals don't get loud 16:41 - Reason 4: Digestion is easier — especially when pushing high protein 20:29 - Reason 5: It is much easier to hit your protein targets throughout the day 24:01 - Caldera Lab eye serum — Sal used it after a terrible night of sleep and saw results in 20 minutes 26:36 - Things they are noticing as they get older — eyesight, ears and hair 38:08 - Fat and sleep connection — why Adam's readiness score jumped when he switched to red meat 44:33 - Why Eight Sleep is the best single investment you can make for health and fitness 52:00 - The viral creatine study explained — it is water not muscle 56:27 - Racetrack country clubs — the fastest growing real estate subsegment nobody is talking about 1:02:42 - Q&A: How to strengthen ligaments tendons and joints in the knee 1:06:41 - Q&A: How many reps before you increase dumbbell weight 1:09:58 - Q&A: Does it matter if you go close to failure with light high reps vs heavy low reps 1:12:44 - Q&A: How long is it okay to run the same program

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4.8
out of 5
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About

MindPump exposes the RAW TRUTH about health, fitness, nutrition and more... Hosts Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer & Justin Andrews pull back the curtain on the mythology, snake oil and pseudo-science that pervades the fitness industry and present science-backed solutions that result in increased muscular development and performance while simultaneously emphasizing health. No fitness institution or fitness "truth" is safe from their quick wit and over 40 years of combined experience in the fitness industry. Produced by Doug Egge. Find Mind Pump and the Mind Pump hosts on Instragram @mindpumpmedia, @mindpumpsal, @mindpumpadam, @mindpumpjustin & @mindpumpdoug and at mindpumppodcast.com. Get expertly programmed Mind Pump training protocols at mapsfitnessproducts.com

Information

  • Creator
    Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, Doug Egge
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1K
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2017+
  • Show Website
    Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth

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